SALEM, Mass. (12/30/06) - Senior forward Ebony Allen (Camden, N.J.) scored a team-high 14 points, including seven points in a key second half run as Kean University erased a 10-point deficit to defeat The College of New Jersey, 60-56, in the championship game of the Salem State College Holiday Classic on Saturday evening.Allen earned tournament most valuable player honors, as she also grabbed six rebounds, including five offensive boards, for the Cougars (10-1) second straight victory since dropping their first game of the year. For the Lions (5-5), sophomore center Hillary Klimowicz (Scotch Plains, N.J.) recorded game-highs of 15 points and 13 rebounds.
Trailing 43-33 midway through the second half, Allen scored seven points including the go-ahead basket in an 18-6 run. Sophomore guard Melissa Beyruti (Union City, N.J.) added seven points in the decisive run. The Cougars pushed the lead out to six points on a pair of occasions over the final minutes en-route to their second come-from-behind victory over the Lions in December.
After trading leads early in the contest, TCNJ led most of the first half and took a 27-24 lead into halftime behind eight points and eight rebounds from Klimowicz. Junior forward Chari' Cooper (Paulsboro, N.J.) paced the Cougars with six points and four rebounds, while freshman guard Colby Greenlee (Stroudsburg, Pa.) added six points.
The Lions outscored Kean 16-9 to open the second half to build the 10-point lead with 9:56 left in the contest, before the Cougars mounted the comeback.
In the victory, Cooper finished with a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds to earn all-tournament team honors, while freshman guard Cardiss Jackman (Tobyhanna, Pa.) added 10 points, four assists, three steals and two blocks. Senior forward Chi Clark (Maplewood, N.J.) also earned all-tournament honors, as she finished with five points and eight rebounds after leading the Cougars in the opening round victory with 22 points against Bates.
The Cougars returned to action on Tuesday, January 2, when they took on Gordon College in the Florida Sunshine Shootout.
