UNION, N.J. (taken from a Kean press release) – The
Brandeis University women were able to stay close in the first half
despite tough shooting night, but they were unable to overcome the
11ht-ranked Kean University Cougars tonight, falling by a 91-65
score in the second round of the NCAA Division III women's
basketball tournament tonight.
Kean was paces by junior guard Melissa Beyruti (Union City, N.J.),
who knocked down eight three-pointers en-route to scoring 31 points
and becoming the all-time leading scorer in Cougar history. Beyruti
knocked down 8-of-14 from long range, and scored 17 points after
intermission, giving her 1,425 career points. Sophomore guard
Cardiss Jackman (Tobyhanna, Pa.) added 17 points, Kean (27-3) tied
the program record for wins in a season and advance to the Sweet
Sixteen for the second year in a row.
For Brandeis (19-8), senior guard Jaime Capra (Old Bridge, N.J.)
led the Judges with 19 points, however the Cougar defense limited
her to just 7-of-20 shooting from the floor, including 1-of-6 from
long range.
The Cougars scored the first 10 points of the game and opened up a
26-9 lead midway through the first half, as Beyruti scored all 14
of her first-half points in the that run. Brandeis battled back
with eight straight points to cut the deficit to single digits at
26-17 with 4:38 remaining in the half on a free throw from
sophomore guard Jessica Chapin (Mendon, N.Y.).
Kean extended the lead back out to 14 points on a three-point play
by Jackman just 26 seconds later, before the Judges pulled to
within four points with 38 seconds left in the half and trailed by
just six points at 36-30 at halftime.
In addition to Beyruti’s 14 first-half points, Jackman had
eight points, while freshman forward Tiffany Patrick (Piscataway,
N.J.) had five points and seven rebounds. Capra led the Judges with
seven points, but connected on just 2-of-10 shooting in the first
half.
After halftime, the Cougars came out running, scoring 13 unanswered
points to cap a 27-8 run to open the half, as Beyruti had 10
points, including her lay-up with 13:11 remaining to break the
program’s all-time scoring record.
The Cougars hit three pointers on three straight possessions to
push the lead out to 31 points with just under eight minutes
remaining en-route to the 34-point victory.
With her eight three-pointers, Beyruti now has 102 for the season,
marking back-to-back season that she has eclipsed 100
three-pointers. The program’s all-time leader in three-point
field goals made, Beyruti now has 275 for her career, moving her
into 14th place in NCAA Division III career history.
Junior guard Ebony Jackson (Newark, N.J.) fell just one assist shy
of a double-double, finishing with 12 points and nine assists,
while Patrick had her third straight double-double with 11 points
and a game-high 17 rebounds.
Senior center Chari’ Cooper (Paulsboro, N.J.) battled foul
trouble throughout the evening, finishing with 11 points and nine
rebounds, to give her 1,497 career rebounds.
For the Judges, junior center Lauren Orlando (Peabody, Mass.) had
11 points, three rebounds and three blocks, while junior forward
Cassidy Dadaos (Healdsburg, Calif.) finished with 10 points and
four rebounds.