EWING, N.J. – The TCNJ women's basketball team was edged by Kean University on Monday, 67-63. The Lions slipped to 10-6 overall including 7-2 in conference action, while the Cougars improved to 11-5 and 7-2 in NJAC play.

TCNJ began the game with an 18-5 run. Jen Byrne took the opening tip all the way for a lay-up, then Rachel Gazzola and Shannon Devitt both scored on lay-ups to make it a 6-0 lead. Gazzola knocked down a corner three-pointer to put the Lions up by nine. After Devitt hit a pair of free throws, Byrne netted five points with a bucket and three-pointer to put TCNJ up by 13.

Right as the first quarter buzzer hit, Gazzola drained a triple to put the Lions ahead by 11. TCNJ held a 35-24 lead with a minute left in the first half, then Devitt knocked down a three-pointer to put the Lions up 38-24. Kean got a pair of free throws to cut the lead to 38-26 at the end of the half.

The Cougars diminished the TCNJ lead to 52-46 at the end of the third quarter. Kean cut it to 54-52 with 6:30 remaining, but the Lions had the answer. Gazzola knocked down a trifecta to put the Lions back up by five. The Cougars countered with a triple of their own to pull within 57-55.

Kean took a 61-59 lead with a lay-up with 2:12 to play. The Lions had a couple of looks on the other end, however they would not fall, and the Cougars hit two more free throws to push the lead to four. Morgan Heller recorded a bucket to pull TCNJ within two, yet Kean made its free throws on the other end to seal the game.

Gazzola led TCNJ with a game-high 20 points. Devitt recorded a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Heller scored eight points and grabbed five boards, while Byrne scored seven points and grabbed eight rebounds. Sydney Blum scored six points coming off of the bench, while Elle Cimilluca dished out six assists. Byrne also grabbed her 500^th career rebound this afternoon.

The Lions will resume play at Stockton on Jan. 22.