EWING, N.J. (02/13/08) - The sixth-ranked Kean University women's basketball team fell to host The College of New Jersey, 79-71 in a key New Jersey Athletic Conference South Division showdown on Wednesday evening. The Lion victory snapped the Cougars' 16 game-winning streak and tied the head-to-head series this season after the Cougars (21-2, 9-2 NJAC) won the first meeting four weeks ago, 60-44, over TCNJ (17-5, 8-2).

Junior guard Melissa Beyruti (Union City, N.J.) led the Cougars with 15 points, while Lions junior center Hillary Klimowicz (Scotch Plains, N.J.) had her 17th double-double of the season with 19 points, 14 rebounds and six blocks.

After Kean scored the first basket of the game, the Lions used a 15-2 run to build an early double-digit lead, 15-4, less than five minutes into the contest as rookie forward Kelsey Kutch (Hillsborough, N.J.) had eight points in the spurt.

The Lions extended the lead to as many as 12 points, before Kean trimmed the deficit in half by closing the opening half on a 13-7 run to trail 35-29 heading to the lockerrooms.

Kutch led the Lions with 12 first-half points, while Beyruti (pictured left) and freshman Brittany Powell (Tinton Falls, N.J.) each scored six points for the Cougars. Kean hit just 26.3 percent (10-of-38) of its shots, while the Lions connected on 12-of-30 for 40.0 percent shooting in the opening 20 minutes of action.

The Cougars netted the first two baskets of the second half to pull within two points, 35-33, just 67 seconds into the half. Kean would tie the game on three separate occasions in the second half, the final time at 51-51 with just under 10 minutes remaining, however the Cougars were never able to regain the lead, as a 6-1 Lions' run pushed the lead back out to five points (57-52) with 8:08 left in the game.

Kean again cut the deficit to just a single point three more times in the final 5:07, including at 68-67 with 1:52 left, however TCNJ converted 11-of-12 free throws in the final two minutes to seal the nine-point victory and snap Kean's five-game winning streak over the Lions.

The Cougars were held to just 34.8 percent shooting (24-of-69) for the game, nearly 10 percent lower than their season average of 44.5 percent. The national leaders in rebounding margin at 15.0 coming into the contest, the Cougars were out-rebounded (45-38) for just the third time this season, and second time by the Lions.

In addition to Beyruti, three other Cougars finished in double-figures, as rookie forward Angelica Bermudez (Belleville, N.J.) had 13 points off the bench, including nine in the second half. Senior center Chari' Cooper (Paulsboro, N.J.) had a double-double with 10 rebounds and 10 points, while Powell (pictured right) added 11 points, including 3-of-5 shooting from long range.

TCNJ used an impressive performance from the line in the second half as they shot 82.8%, making 24 of 29 free throws. Among the leaders down the stretch, Kutch hit all 12 of her free throws, making 6-6 in each half, while Klimowicz made 9-of-10 for the game and was 7-8 in the second half.

Senior Sara Best (High Bridge, N.J.) added 17 points for the Lions, making 6-of-11 shots from the floor, while Kutch finished with 18 points in the game.

The Cougars have a week to rebound from the loss, as they have a bye weekend before hosting Richard Stockton College in the final regular season home game on Wednesday, February 20. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.