UNION, N.J. – The TCNJ women's basketball team was clipped by Kean on Saturday, 54-52. The Lions fell to 15-9 on the year, including 12-5 in NJAC play. The Cougars improved to 17-7 overall and 13-4 in the conference.

TCNJ erased a six-point deficit in the final two minutes. Kean took a 52-46 lead with 2:56 remaining. Elle Cimilluca made a clutch three-pointer with 1:03 left to pull TCNJ within 52-50. Sydney Blum came up with a steal on the other end, and Rachel Gazzola tied the game. She grabbed an offensive rebound and hit the put back to make it a 52-52 game with 23 seconds left.

After a timeout, Kean hit on a lay-up with six seconds left. On the next possession, the Lions got it to Shannon Devitt down low who had a good look, yet the shot did not fall.  

TCNJ trailed, 23-21, at the start of the second half. The Cougars took a 45-34 lead with under a minute left in the third quarter. Morgan Heller made a three-pointer to pull TCNJ within eight late in the third. Gazzola converted a lay-up right as the third quarter finished to cut the Kean lead to 47-39.

The Lions continued their comeback in the fourth quarter. Gazzola scored from in close again, then Cimilluca hit a jumper to trim the deficit to 49-43. TCNJ's defense put the clamps on Kean's offense, and the Cougars did not score from the 9:19 mark to the 2:56 mark. Devitt scored a lay-up to pull TCNJ within 49-45, then Blum hit a free throw to make it a three-point game with five minutes left.

Gazzola's put back tied the game at 52-52 with just 23 seconds remaining. Cindy Foresta of Kean scored a lay-up in the paint after taking an inbounds pass with six seconds to go. She was fouled and missed the free throw, then the Lions called timeout. TCNJ got the ball down low to Devitt, yet it did not fall and Kean held onto the win.

Cimilluca scored a game-high 16 points. She shot 4-of-6 from three-point range and added six rebounds. Gazzola posted a double-double with 10 points and 11 boards. Devitt scored eight points on 4-of-6 shooting from the floor, while Jen Byrne tallied seven points and eight rebounds.

Byrne moved into seventh place all-time in TCNJ history in scoring. She passed Sandy Sellers and now has 1,257 points for her career.

Despite the setback, the Lions remain in good standing for the NJAC Tournament. TCNJ will host a first round game on Feb. 22.

The Lions will return to action for the regular season finale at William Paterson on Feb. 19. Tip will be at 6:00 p.m.