GLASSBORO, N.J. (2/23/08) - Senior center Chari' Cooper (Paulsboro, N.J.) moved into third place on the NCAA Division III career rebounding list, finishing with her 17th double-double of the season, however the #7/8 Kean University women's basketball team was upset by host Rowan University, 78-75, in the New Jersey Athletic Conference regular season finale on Saturday afternoon. Junior guard Melissa Beyruti (Union City, N.J.) (pictured right) led the Cougars (22-3, 10-3) with a game-high 24 points, as defending conference champion Kean will look to defend their NJAC championship from the second seed in the South Division.
Cooper had 13 points and a game-high 17 rebounds, giving her 1,428 career boards and moving her into third place in NCAA Division III history. She also is just 14 rebounds shy of moving into 15th place NCAA all-time among Division I, II and III history.
Senior guard Kristina Wallace (Logan Twp., N.J.) led the Profs (15-10, 7-6) with 23 points, seven assists and four steals, as Rowan heads into the NJAC tournament as the third seed in the South Division.
With just 3:11 left in the game, Kean took a six point lead at 73-67 following a three-pointer from junior guard Ebony Jackson (Newark, N.J.). Rowan responded with eight straight points to take a two point lead (75-73), capped off by a three-point play by Wallace with just under two minutes remaining.
After Cooper tied the game up at 75-75 at the 56 second mark, Rowan sophomore forward Jessica Nimbley (Middletown, N.J.) gave Rowan the lead for good with a jumper with 38 seconds left. The Cougars had several opportunities on their next possession to tie the game or take the lead, however they were unable to convert and Prof junior Brynn DeGroff (Wildwood Crest, N.J.) converted 1-of-2 foul shots for the three-point advantage.
A final three-point attempt with three seconds left didn't fall for the Cougars, and Kean finished the regular season with an identical 22-3 record to last season's NJAC championship and Elite Eight squad.
The Cougars built a 39-32 advantage at halftime, as Beyruti led Kean with 12 points in the opening half. For Rowan, sophomore forward Jillian Kane (Ridgefield Park, N.J.) had 10 points
The second half saw a Jackson layup extend the Cougar lead to as many as 12 points (54-42) with 14:19 left. Rowan pulled within two points at 63-61 on a three-pointer by Wallace with just under eight minutes remaining before the Cougars extended the lead back out to six points on three separate occasions, including the final time with 3:11 left.
Beyruti knocked down five three pointers, moving her into a tie for 21st place in NCAA Division III history with 251 career three-pointers.
Sophomore guard Cardiss Jackman (Tobyhanna, Pa.) had 13 points, while Jackson (pictured left) finished with 11 points, four assists and three steals.
Kane hit 8-of-12 from the floor and knocked down all five of her free throws to score 23 points off the bench for the Profs.
The Cougars open defense of their NJAC title at home with an opening round game against Rutgers-Newark on Monday, February 25. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m., with the winner advancing to a semifinal match-up against NJAC North Division top-seed William Paterson University two days later.
Cooper Moves Into Third Place in NCAA Division III History in Kean Loss
