WAYNE, N.J. (2/24/07) -In dramatic fashion, the Kean University women's basketball claimed the 2006-07 New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championship, defeating host William Paterson University, 62-59. With the win the Cougars earn the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament.The Cougars (24-3) controlled most of the game before the Pioneers started chipping away and within the final minutes it became a see-saw battle. With just 6 seconds left in the contest, junior Pioneer Michelle Pellichero (Milltown, N.J.) tied the game at 59 with a three-pointer. Sophomore Ebony Jackson (Newark, N.J.) then drove the ball down the court passing it off to fellow sophomore Melissa Beyruti (Union City, N.J.) who drilled a trey of her own with time expiring to send the Cougars and their fans into a frenzy and a well deserved on-court celebration.
The Cougars led by 10 (57-47) with 3:27 to play, but the Pioneers were able to mount steam and mount a rally to eventually tie the score. Senior Luci Custis (Roselle, N.J.) converted a three-point play at the 2:07 mark followed by a pair of free throws by freshman Julie Haledjian (Montvale, N.J),to pull the Pioneers within five at 57-52 (1:43). Senior Melissa Moore's (East Orange, N.J.) putback with 59.8 seconds on the clock made the score 57-54 and Haledjian came away with a steal on the ensuing inbounds play, setting up a three-point attempt by junior Michelle Pellichero (Milltown, N.J.). Her shot would not fall, but Custis tracked down the rebound and converted the follow the 39.1 seconds left (57-56). Junior Lori Custis (Roselle, N.J.) was then whistled for her fifth foul on the other end of the court, and senior Ebony Allen (Camden, N.J.) was able to convert both free throws to again make it a three-point contest (59-56) with just over 16 seconds remaining. Pellichero took control of the ball at the top of the key for the Pioneers and dribbled to her right on the perimeter, looking for space to get off a shot. Her leaning attempt found the bottom of the net, knotting the score at 59-59 with 6.3 seconds remaining. Jackson then took the inbounds pass and raced down the floor, finding Beyruti on the right wing. Several Pioneer defenders had Beyruti surrounded, but the NJAC's leading scorer found a way to launch a shot, and it fell through the rim as time expired to give the Cougars their 11th conference title (1983-91, 2002).

Both sides started the contest a bit over-eager, as three of first five possessions were ended by offensive charges. Six ties and six more lead changes marked the game's first 13:32, but a 9-2 Kean burst gave the Cougars control and a seven-point lead (25-18, 4:10). Pellichero's three-pointer from behind a screen briefly cut that advantage to four (27-23, 1:46), but Kean was able to take a six-point advantage into locker room, 29-23, thanks to a fast-break layup by Colby Greenlee (Stoudsburg, Pa.) in the final 30 seconds. Eight different players were saddled with two fouls apiece at the break, including two starters for the Pioneers and three for the Cougars.

A 10-3 spurt by William Paterson early in the second half cut the lead to three, 36-33, and the Pioneers eventually pulled even at 42-42 with 9:40 to play. Freshman Elisa Brown (Norwalk, Conn.) was called for a foul on a Beyruti three-point attempt, and her three free throws ignited a 12-2 burst for the Cougars.
Allen posted 22 points and 10 rebounds for the Cougars, while Beyruti scored 19. Junior Chari' Cooper (Paulsboro, N.J.) had 11 rebounds in the win.

Luci Custis led the Pioneers with 20 points, adding seven rebounds. Pellichero scored 17 points, making five of 10 three-point attempts.