GLASSBORO, N.J. - The TCNJ women's basketball team was on the road to face off against Rowan in conference action last night, using a 13-0 run that spanned the third and fourth quarters to top the Profs 69-53. The win also secures the Lions a first-round bye in the upcoming NJAC Tournament.
 
Grace Kowalski had her best game of the new year in the hard-fought victory, leading all scorers with 20 points – 15 of which came in the second half – and was joined by Arianna McCleod (16), Nina Branchizio (14) and Katie Fricker (10) in double figures. Branchizio and Jaclyn Feit shared the team-lead in rebounds with seven apiece while Kowalski finished with five assists to lead all players.
 
TCNJ (18-5, 14-2 NJAC) used the three ball early and often in Wednesday's rematch, hitting six first-quarter triples to jump out to a quick lead. Kowalski, Fricker and Branchizio each hit from deep in the opening three minutes to give the Lions an 11-3 advantage, but a 9-3 response from Rowan (15-8, 11-5 NJAC) trimmed the lead back to just two with 2:21 to go.
 
After taking the initial punch the frame started how it ended for TCNJ, with Branchizio and McCleod striking from 3-point land again before a Feit baseline jumper ended the quarter on an 8-0 run and sent the Lions into the first break up 22-12.
 
The advantage grew to as big as 14 following a perfect trip to the free throw line from Fricker, but TCNJ was held to just one made bucket – a tough McCleod layup – and went into halftime up 36-24.
 
Missed shots and turnovers plagued the Lions early in the second half, allowing the Profs to get as close as two following a 9-2 run that trimmed the lead to 40-38 and forced a TCNJ timeout.
 
That pause in the action proved pivotal, however, as the Lions came out and held Rowan scoreless over the ensuing 7:27, going on the extended 13-0 run through the change in quarters to build the advantage back to 15 at 53-38 with 8:15 to go. TCNJ got buckets from Feit, McCleod, Kowalski and Fricker during the run that all but put Wednesday's game out of reach.
 
Kowalski would take over from that point, scoring the Lions' next seven points to keep the Profs at bay, with the hosts never getting closer than nine en route to the 69-53 victory.
 
FOR THE FOES

• Kate Herlihy finished with a team-high 18 points on 8-15 shooting.
• Shayla Johnson narrowly missed out on a double-double off the bench, scoring 14 points and corralling nine rebounds.

STANDOUT LIONS

• Kowalski's 20 points are her most since she scored 21 against Chapman in December. The sophomore added four rebounds and five assists in an all-around effort.
• McCleod reached double figures for the seventh time in eight games, with the senior's 16 points serving as her second highest mark of the season.
• Branchizio paired her 14 points with seven rebounds – tied for her career-high – and three steals.
• Feit scored seven points, grabbed seven rebounds and blocked a game-high three shots in her second start of the season.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• TCNJ shot 45.1% from the field and 40% from deep while holding Rowan to 36.1% overall and 29.4% from beyond the arc. The Lions attempted 17 free throws compared to six for the Profs.
• Contrary to recent games, TCNJ was outscored 23-2 in bench points.
• The Lions committed nine turnovers to Rowan's 10, with both teams scoring 13 points off of those miscues.
• The Profs held a narrow advantage in rebounds (36-34) and second-chance points (8-5).

NOTES

• Branchizio is now four triples away from breaking the program record for 3-point field goals.
• Kowalski eclipsed 500 points for her career in just her second season.
• The Lions remain tied with Montclair State for first in the conference with two games remaining.

UP NEXT

• The Lions are back in Packer Hall Saturday, Feb. 15 to host New Jersey City in its regular season home finale. TCNJ's two graduating seniors will be honored prior to tip, which is scheduled for 1 p.m.