NEWARK, N.J. (1/15/11) – Senior forward Tiffany Patrick had game-highs of 23 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Kean University women's basketball team to a 72-54 win over host Rutgers-Newark in New Jersey Athletic Conference action on Saturday evening.

The #7/9 Cougars (14-2, 5-0 NJAC) remain undefeated in the NJAC with their fifth straight win.  Scarlet Raider senior forward Jaleesa Coleman led Rutgers-Newark with 20 points.

Kean led throughout, building the first half advantage to 15 points at the break for the 40-25 lead, as Patrick (pictured left) had 13 points in the first half and sophomore Naimah Clemons added 12 points.  Coleman paced the Scarlet Raiders with 12 first-half points.

After Rutgers-Newark scored the first five points of the second half to pull within 10 points, Kean reeled off 10 unanswered points to extend the lead out to 20 points at 50-30 with 15:29 remaining.

Back-to-back three-pointers from Jared Tactuk and Coleman pulled Rutgers-Newark to within 14 points, however eight straight points for Kean pushed lead to 22 points at 58-36 with just under 12 minutes left.

The Cougars extended their lead out to 23 points on several occasions en-route to the 18-point victory.

Clemons fnished with 17 points and four steals, while freshman guard Emily Cristaldi (pictured right) added 13 points.  Kean controlled the boards, 54-36, as sophomore Simone Smith chipped in with 10 rebounds.

For Rutgers-Newark, junior guard Brittany Smith netted eight of her 10 points in the second half, while also adding five rebounds, three steals and two assists.

Kean returns to action on Wednesday, January 19, when the Cougars host Rutgers-Camden at 6 p.m.