Women's Basketball Drops 99-84 Decision to Kean at NYU Holiday Classic

MANHATTAN, N.Y. --Marajiah Bacon poured in a school record-tying 44 points to lead the Kean University women's basketball team to a 99-84 victory over Bridgewater State University on Sunday evening at the NYU Holiday Classic.

The Cougars improve to 9-3 on the season with the win, while the Bears slip to 2-8 overall with their sixth straight setback.

Bacon connected on 16 of 29 field goal attempts, including 3-for-6 from behind the arc, and went 9-for-11 at the free throw line. She also grabbed eight rebounds, dished out eight assists and recorded a pair of steals.

Tori Schweyher added 23 points for the Cougars, while Jaquetta Owens posted a double-double with 20 points and a game-high ten assists to go along with three steals. Schweyher knocked down seven three-pointers (7-for-15) and notched four rebounds and two steals.

Bacon, Schweyher and Owens accounted for 87 of the Cougars' 99 points.

Kean scored 67 points over the final two quarters, including 58 in the last 15 minutes, as the Cougars erased a 14-point third quarter deficit.  Bacon scored 29 of her 44 points in the second half while Schweyher tallied 17 and Owens recorded 13.

Chanelle Melton paced Bridgewater State with 21 points, nine rebounds, four assists, a block and a steal. Sara DaSilva added a career-high 23 points to go along with three boards, while Jennie Lindland posted a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds. Vanesa Conceicao chipped in 16 points as she went 9-for-11 at the charity stripe.

The Bears led 42-32 at the intermission and extended the advantage to 14 points, 55-41, with 5:18 remaining in the third quarter following a DaSilva traditional three-point play.

The final 15 minutes of the contest, however, belonged to Kean. The Cougars outscored the Bears 27-8 over the last five minutes of the third quarter to take a 68-63 lead into the fourth quarter.

Kean extended its lead with 31 points in the final period. Bacon made 1 of 2 free throws with just eight seconds left to give the Cougars their biggest lead of the evening, 99-82. A DaSilva layup with two seconds showing accounted for the final tally of 99-84.

Kean shot 64% (23-36) in the second half including a scorching 8-for-10 (80%) from long range.

Bridgewater State shot 47% (18-38) in the first half and 38% (12-32) in the second. The Bears went 16-for-21 at the free throw line in the second half and 21-for-28 (75%) for the game. Bridgewater put up 21 points in each of the four quarters. 

The Bears are back in action on Thursday night when they host Elms College at 7:30.