| Women's Basketball 12/3/08 | ||
#3 Kean 88, Stockton 80 | ||
Richard Stockton (1-5, 0-1) hung with third-ranked Kean (5-0, 1-0) for most of the game before falling short 88-80 in the NJAC opener for both teams. Kelley Guarrera (Shamong/ Shawnee) tied a career high with 25 points and also added seven rebounds. Freshman Monique Garcia (Atlantic City/Atlantic City) recorded a career high with 11 points. Ashley Hart (Pt. Pleasant Beach/Peddie School) had 14 points, including three 3-pointers, and Jenn Russell (Scotch Plains/SP-Fanwood) also added 11 points. Guarrera carried Stockton with 19 points in the first half. The period included seven lead changes and six ties as the teams traded baskets. The Ospreys fashioned a 34-26 lead, the biggest margin for either team during the half, after a three-pointer by Aliyah Nelson (Pleasantville/St. Joseph). Guarrera later drained her third three-pointer of the half to give Stockton a 40-33 lead with 1:43 on the clock, but Kean rattled off the final seven points for a 40-40 tie at the break. In the second half, Guarrera hit another trey to put Stockton ahead 57-56, however Kean responded by outscoring the Ospreys 18-5 over the next five minutes for a 74-62 lead with 7:53 remaining. Stockton gamely battled back to within 76-71 as Hart scored all nine points for the Ospreys on two three-pointers and three free throws during a 9-2 spurt. Although Stockton pulled within five on two more occasions late the game, Kean stayed in front and held off the Ospreys 88-80. |
