Union, N.J. (12/2/09) - Senior Melissa Beyruti (Union City, N.J.) scored a game-high 16 points to lead the Kean women's basketball team to their first conference win of the season, defeating visiting Rutgers-Camden, 89-47, Wednesday evening at Harwood Arena. Beyruti was one of 18 Cougars to see action this evening as #9/12 Kean improved to 4-1 overall and 1-0 in the NJAC. Rutgers-Camden drops to 2-3 and 0-1 in conference action.

The scoring was slow and steady in the early goings of tonight's matchup before Kean used a 10-0 run to take a 17-7 lead. Senior Cardiss Jackman (Tobyhanna, Pa.) got the run started with a trey at 15:20 to give the Cougars the lead for good in the matchup. Kean extended their lead to as many as 19 in the first half as Jackman again connected for a layup with 5:51 to go for a 35-16 advantage.
KU headed into the break with a 45-27 lead. Jackman contributed with 11 points while freshman Brittanie Payne (Willingboro, N.J.) added nine on 4-of-4 from the floor and one from the charity stripe. For the Lady Raptors junior Karima Blackwell (Somerdale, N.J.) recorded 12 points in the first 20 minutes of action.

The Cougars then cruised through the second half, ending with their largest lead in the final of 89-47.

Jackman finished with 13 points while rookie Naimah Clemons (Newark, N.J.) registered 10 points, five rebounds and six assists. Sophomore Brittany Powell (Tinton Falls, N.J.) recorded 10 points. For Rutgers-Camden, Blackwell finished with 15 points and nine rebounds while teammate Brittany Turner (Belleville, N.J.) added 13 points.