UNION, N.J. – The TCNJ women's basketball team put up a strong fight at NJAC first-place Kean on Saturday afternoon, but a late push propelled the Cougars to a 58-49 victory over the Lions. Julia Setaro had 15 points and seven rebounds to lead the Lions in both categories.
 
Kean entered the game with more than six three pointers per contest, and TCNJ held the Cougars to just 1-for-15 (6.7 percent) from three-point range. That included an 0-for-5 for Kean in the first quarter from beyond the arc, part of a 2-for-16 shooting effort from the field that led to a 13-5 TCNJ lead.
 
Morgan Heller scored four points in the first quarter as five different Lions made a shot. That included a three pointer from Setaro, one of five she would make on the day. The Lions held Kean without a field goal for nearly six minutes in the period as they built an eight-point lead.
 
Sydney Blum hit a three pointer on TCNJ's final possession of the second quarter, and the Lions carried a 23-19 lead into halftime. The Lions' lead ballooned to 11 points early in the third. Buckets from Heller and Toy were followed by another Setaro three pointer to give TCNJ a 32-21 lead with 7:16 left. Kean fought back though, to take a 40-37 lead at the end of three quarters.
 
In the fourth, Kean led by five with 4:59 to play when Setaro heated up. She made a three pointer to make it 48-46. After a Kean bucket, she hit another three pointer from the right side to make it 50-49 Kean with 3:10 to play. Other than a Kean layup with 1:54 left to make it 52-49, neither team could score until TCNJ began fouling in the final 40 seconds. Kean scored the final six points of the game in the last 36 seconds.
 
Heller and Nina Branchizio each scored eight points.
 
The Lions return to action on Wednesday for an NJAC home game against Ramapo at 6 p.m.