Wayne, N.J. (1/29/11) - Sophomore Naimah Clemons had a team-high 25 points to led the #3/2 Cougars over #21/19 William Paterson University, 79-64, in New Jersey Athletic Conference action.With the win the Cougars remain undefeated in conference play and improve to 17-2 overall and 8-0 in conference action. For the Pioneers junior BriAnna Lucas scored a career-high 31 points as her team fell to 17-3 overall and 6-2 in the NJAC.

Lucas scored 21 of her points in the second half to help spark a William Paterson surge that cut a 19-point halftime deficit to single-digits (53-44) with 10:04 remaining. Down 49-30 with 16:29 on the clock, WPU went 3-for-4 from the free-throw line, followed by a Lucas three-pointer. The two teams traded free throws before Clemons converted a layup, giving the Cougars a 53-38 lead with 13:43 to play.

Freshman Jewell Palmer was fouled after a Pioneer miss and sank a pair from the charity stripe. Lucas later tallied two from the charity stripe herself as William Paterson kept it close by the score of 53-42. Each team missed a field goal and was charged with a turnover before Palmer drained a jumper, cutting Kean's lead to single digits again at 53-44 with 10:04 remaining.
Cougar Brittanie Payne would start a 12-0 Kean run with a pair of free throws that put Kean back in control at 65-44 with 7:03 to play. The Pioneers answered with a 12-2 spurt of their own (67-56, 4:14), but Kean scored the next six points during a minute span for a 73-56 lead with 3:13 left in the second half.

Payne scored 17 and dished out seven assists, and freshman Emily Cristaldi contributed 12 points and six rebounds. Senior Tiffany Patrick finished with nine points and nine rebounds in the win.

Lucas added seven rebounds and four steals for the Pioneers. April Smith added 11 points and seven boards.

The Cougars got off to a hot start, jumping out to a 14-2 lead less than five minutes into the contest thanks to 6-of-10 (.600) shooting. Kean entered the locker room with a 40-21 advantage behind 41.5 (17-41) percent first-half shooting while limiting the Pioneers to a 7-for-30 (.233) effort.

Kean returns to NJAC action on Wednesday, February 2nd when they travel to The College of New Jersey for a 6 p.m. matchup.