UNION, N.J. (11/30/07) - Junior guards Melissa Beyruti (Union City, N.J.) and Ebony Jackson (Newark, N.J.) combined for 43 points to lead No. 5/10 Kean University past Baruch College, 95-72, in non-conference women's basketball action on Friday evening. The Cougars (5-0) held Baruch leading scorer Chiresse Paradise (Chicago, Ill.) to just two points, 13 points below her season average, as the Bearcats were led by Bearcats, senior forward Dominique McClendon (Chicago, Ill.), who scored a game-high 32 points.

After a tight opening eight minutes of action that saw the Cougars take an 18-17 lead, Kean closed the half on a 38-17 run to take a 56-34 lead into halftime. Beyruti and senior center Chari' Cooper (Paulsboro, N.J.) each scored 14 first-half points, while Jackson added 10 points, five rebounds and four assists in the opening 20 minutes.

McClendon poured in 17 points in the opening half for Baruch, hitting 7-of-10 shots from the floor, as the Cougars held Paradise, the CUNY Player of the Year in 2005-06, scoreless in the first half.

In the second half, Kean extended their lead to as many as 31 points on a pair of occasions, as the Cougar lead was at least 20 points for the entire second half, en-route to their third straight victory over a CUNY opponent.

Beyruti finished with 23 points, while Jackson had 20 points on 9-of-10 shooting and added seven assists and seven rebounds. Cooper had her fifth double-double in as many games this season, finishing with 17 points and 16 rebounds, while sophomore guard Cardiss Jackman (Tobyhanna, Pa.) had 17 points and four rebounds.

McClendon hit 11-of-20 from the field and 10-of-15 from the charity stripe to lead the Bearcats, and freshman guard Monique Salmon (Bronx, N.Y.) added 1 points and four rebounds. Paradise finished with four assists, three blocks and two steals, but the Cougar defense held her to just 1-of-18 shooting.

Kean opens defense of its New Jersey Athletic Conference championship on Saturday, December 8, when they host William Paterson University in a rematch of last year's championship game. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m.