Box Score 

WAYNE, N.J. – William Paterson (15-6, 7-2 NJAC) took a one-point lead with less than three minutes to play, but No. 19/21 Kean (17-3, 9-0 NJAC) scored 10 of the game's final 12 points to win an 81-74 battle of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) divisional leaders Jan. 31.

Trailing by 11 at halftime and by 10 3:30 into the second period, William Paterson used back-to-back three-pointers by freshman BriAnna Lucas (Hamilton, N.J./Nottingham) and junior Erin Cook (Princeton, N.J./Princeton) to get within four (51-47, 15:23). The two teams traded baskets until the Pioneers reeled off five straight points, the last two a pair of Lucas free throws, to take their first lead of the second stanza, 56-55 with 12:22 remaining.

Kean responded with a Tiffany Patrick jumper and a Danielle Brown layup, and following a Cook jumper, Kean scored eight more unanswered points, pulling ahead 67-58 with 7:57 on the clock.

The Pioneers would not fold, steadily chipping away until Deidra Thompson's (Prospect Park, N.J./Paterson Eastside) putback cut the Cougars' advantage to one (69-68, 4:36). Junior forward Cardiss Jackman immediately scored for Kean, and following a one-minute stretch during which the two teams combined for 0-for-4 shooting and two turnovers, Lucas stepped to the line for the Pioneers and sank a pair of shots, again making it a one-point contest (71-70, 3:33).

Patrick had a chance to stretch the advantage for the Cougars, but missed the front end of a one-and-one with 3:03 on the clock. During the ensuing possession, Lucas tracked down her own miss from beyond the arc, and Thompson used the second chance to nail a jumper from the middle of the paint, making it a one-point WP advantage at 72-71 with 2:37 to play.

Ebony Jackson followed two misses from the stripe with two successful free throws, once again securing the lead for the Cougars (73-72, 2:05). William Paterson was whistled for a five-second violation while trying to inbound the ball during its next possession, and Kean followed with a turnover of its own, before Jackman was whistled for a foul. Thompson was unable to connect on either free throw for the Pioneers with 1:18 remaining, and Patrick was able to make WP pay for the missed opportunity, converting a jumper 20 seconds later for a three-point Kean edge. The Cougars were able to make all six of their free throws during the game's final 27 seconds to secure the win, their eighth straight.

Jackman finished with 26 points for Kean, including 20 in the first half. Patrick registered 18 tallies and a team-high 12 rebounds, Jackson posted 15 points and four assists, and Brown contributed 12 points.

Sophomore forward April Smith (Barnegat, N.J./Southern Regional) paced the Pioneers with 20 points, adding 10 rebounds, and Cook also posted a double-double with 11 tallies and 10 boards. Lucas contributed 13 points, while Julie Haledjian (Montvale, N.J./Pascack Hills) had 11 points, five assists and three steals.

The Pioneers scored seven of the game's first 11 points, but Kean quickly erased that deficit with a 16-1 burst, the last nine points off the hot hand of Jackman, for a 20-8 advantage 7:33 into the contest.

The Cougars' lead grew to as many as 13 (23-10, 12:03), but a mini 6-0 WP spurt made it a 25-20 score with 9:11 on the clock. Patrick sank a layup in the paint, and followed by a missed three-pointer by each side, Jackson and Patrick combined for six straight points, followed by another Jackman layup, to extend Kean's lead to 15 at 35-20 (6:21). A Smith three-point play momentarily cut it to single digits during the final minute, but Alysha Taylor's fast-break bucket with 15 seconds to play allowed the Cougars to enter the locker room with a 43-32 advantage.

Kean shot 56.3 (18-32) percent from the field during the first half and held William Paterson to just 8-of-32 (.250) shooting, but the Pioneers' 15-for-17 (.882) effort from the free-throw line kept William Paterson within striking distance. Jackman led all scorers with her 20 points, making seven of 10 shots from the floor.

William Paterson finished the afternoon by making 21 of 29 (.724) free throws, and shot 41.0 (16-39) percent during the second half for an overall percentage of 33.8 (24-71). Kean made 14 of 31 (.452) second-half attempts from the floor for a total of 50.8 (32-63) percent shooting. The Pioneers outrebounded the Cougars 46-40 and outscored Kean 29-16 in points off turnovers, but the Cougars owned a 52-30 scoring edge in the paint and a 22-14 advantage on the break.

William Paterson will return to action Saturday, Feb. 7, when the Pioneers host New Jersey City at 3:00 p.m. Kean will host Richard Stockton Wednesday, Feb. 4, at 6:00 p.m.