Union, NJ… Kean University battled back from a second-half deficit to force overtime and then outscored The College of New Jersey women's basketball team 14-4 in overtime to come away with a key New Jersey Athletic Conference win on Saturday by the score of 75-65.
 
The loss tightens the top of the NJAC standings as the Lions remain in second place with a record of 8-3, while Kean moves to 7-3 and William Paterson University and Ramapo College are right behind them at 7-4. Montclair State University sits atop the conference with a 10-1 mark.
 
The game was a mirror image of the first meeting at TCNJ when the Lions raced out to a big lead only to see the Cougars come back to pull even and force overtime. This time, however, Kean was able to carry that momentum into the overtime and come away with the win. In December, TCNJ dominated OT scoring 22 points en route to that 95-83 win.
 
Once the teams were deadlocked at 61-61 at the end of regulation, thanks to a 23-8 run that helped erase a 23-point deficit early in the second frame, the Cougars took the lead six seconds into overtime. That was their first lead of the game since the opening minute of the contest and once they had the lead they and never let the Lions get any closer than one point. That was at 66-65 following two free throws by junior Kylie O'Donnell (Magnolia, NJ/Sterling).
 
Kean capped off the comeback scoring the final nine points of overtime to earn a season split in the two games.
 
O'Donnell led the Lions with 17 points, while senior Liz West (Monmouth Beach, NJ/Shore Regional) contributed with 12 points and eight rebounds.
 
TCNJ (11-6) trailed only once in regulation and that was after Kean's initial possession. The Lions quickly took charge scoring the next seven points with senior Colleen Duffy (Spotswood, NJ/Spotswood) and classmate Kelly Roddy (Belmar, NJ/St. Rose) each scoring from the floor, while O'Donnell drained a 3-pointer for a 7-1 lead.
 
The Cougars came back to get within five points at 25-20 with 8:22 left in the half, but TCNJ countered with one of their patented big runs. The Lions reeled off 16 straight points with senior Tiffany DeTulio (Colts Neck, NJ/Colts Neck)  playing a big part in that run with six points.
 
The defense also did its part not allowing the Cougars a field goal in that final 8:22 and they finished the half with a 41-22 lead. Both of Kean's points came in the final minute of the half from the foul line.
 
TCNJ took its biggest lead of the game just over a minute into the second half when O'Donnell made two lay-ups for a 45-22 advantage.
 
Kean kept coming as they used a big run of their own, scoring 15 straight points to close the gap to 45-37, but O'Donnell ended it with a three-point play with 12:47 left.  
 
The Cougars had one last charge that covered the final 10 minutes as they outscored the Lions 23-8 knotting the game at 61-61 in the final seconds. Each team had a chance to win the game, by TCNJ turned the ball over with 11 seconds left and Kean missed a shot with three seconds left.
 
DeTulio had a balanced game for the Lions with nine points and seven rebounds and Duffy nearly matched those numbers with eight points and seven rebounds.
 
TCNJ plays its final non-conference game of the season on Monday, January 27 hosting Stevens Institute of Technology at 7 p.m. in Packer Hall.