UNION, N.J. (January 24, 2018) – Kean University defeated Rutgers University-Newark 69-60 in New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) women's basketball action Wednesday night in Harwood Arena.
 
Freshman guard Ania Harrell led the Scarlet Raiders with a double-double of 19 points and 11 rebounds.
 
Rutgers-Newark falls to 7-12 overall and 2-10 in the NJAC. Kean improves to 7-11 overall and 4-8 in league play. The Scarlet Raiders visit NJAC foe Rutgers University-Camden Saturday in their return to the hardwood.
 
The first 20 minutes of action was tightly contested, and the hosts settled on a 33-27 advantage at the half.
 
Kean doubled up the Scarlet Raiders early, but a three-pointer from sophomore guard Hannah Ashby made it an 8-7 game four minutes in. The Cougars would push the margin to seven following a three of their own, but six-straight points from the Scarlet Raiders bridging the first and second quarters made it a one-point contest (17-16) with 9:40 left in the half.
 
The Cougars regained their half-best seven-point edge with 6:03 to play in the second quarter, but a three-point play from Harrell slowed the momentum and the two teams eventually went to the locker room with the hosts holding a six-point lead.
 
Two foul shots from sophomore Louise Ann Borja pulled the Scarlet Raiders back within one (34-33) 2:14 in the second half, but Kean changed the game with an 18-3 run to push its lead to 16 (52-36) with a shade over two minutes to play in the third.
 
Facing a 17-point deficit to start the fourth, Rutgers-Newark clawed back, getting six-straight points from sophomore Comfort Akinbo, junior guard Faith Ashby and Hannah Ashby to get within nine (60-51) midway through the period. Another Faith Ashby bucket with 4:28 left made it a six-point game, but the Cougars scored the next four points to all-but seal the win.
 
Akinbo had nine points, seven rebounds and two blocks, and Faith Ashby had nine points, seven boards, two assists and two steals. Senior Nicole Skelly had 10 points, five rebounds and two steals, while Hannah Ashby totaled nine points, two boards, three assists and two thefts.
 
The Scarlet Raiders totaled 38 rebounds, nine assists and eight steals, shooting 37.3 percent from the floor, 1-for-6 from long range and 15-for-24 at the line.
 
Kean shot 42.9 percent for the game, going 14-for-18 at the line and just 1-for-11 from distance. The Cougars corralled 43 caroms and dished out 18 assists, with De'Mean Bond leading the way wth 18 points, 14 rebounds and four blocked shots.
 
Saturday's tip-off against the Scarlet Raptors is slated for 1 p.m.