UNION, N.J. (11/20/11) – Lewis & Clark junior guard Sara Villanueva scored 15 of her game-high 27 points in the second half to lead the #25 Pioneers to an 81-71 win over Kean University in the Cougar Classic Championship Game on Sunday afternoon.

The Pioneers (3-0) used a 15-2 run late in the second half to turn a seven-point deficit into a six-point lead to take control of the game.  Junior guard Naimah Clemons scored a team-high 24 points for the Cougars (2-1).

Kean led for much for much of the first half and scored six straight points to build its largest lead at 30-23 following back-to-back lay-ups by Clemons and junior forward Simone Smith.  With Kean leading 32-25 with just under six minutes left in the half, the Pioneers scored eight straight points to take their first lead since a 3-2 lead in the early minutes.  Clemons answered with a three-pointer and the Cougars would push the lead back out to 39-33, before Lewis & Clark closed the half on an 8-2 run to trail 43-41 at the break. 

Clemons led all scorers with 18 first-half points, as she hit 7-of-10 shots from the floor.  Smith connected on 5-of-8 field goals to score 11 points in the opening half.  Villanueva had 12 points for the Pioneers.

Kean opened the second half with seven straight points to take a 50-41 lead following a three-point play by Smith just 1:51 into the half.  The Cougars would build their largest lead at 59-49 following a three-point by freshman AnnaRose Pierre with 13:57 left in the game. 

Five straight points by the Pioneers would trim the lead in half and Lewis & Clark would later follow with the 15-2 run to turn a 63-56 Kean lead into a 71-65 Pioneer advantage.  Senior forward Neva Hauser had seven points in the run, while Villanueva added two points, two assists and a steal. 

The Cougars would trim the lead back to four at 71-67 on a layup by Erika Jones, however that would be as close as Kean would get, as Villanueva hit all six of her free throws in the final 3:35 of the game to seal the win for the Pioneers.

For Kean, Smith had a career-high 22 points and added three blocks.  Senior guard Noel Mathis had six points, six assists and four steals.

In the victory, Villanueva hit 8-of-14 from the floor and 10-of-14 from the foul line, as she also finished with four assists and four rebounds to earn Most Valuable Player honors.  Junior guard Kristina Williams had 16 points and six rebounds, while Hauser and forward Megan Spence each added nine points.  Spence also finished with a game-high nine rebounds and added four steals. 

In the consolation game, Salisbury University (1-1) went on a 29-9 run in the second half en-route to defeating Oneonta State, 72-57.  Sophomore forward Josie Hildebrand scored 14 of her game-high 18 points in the second half.  Freshman guard Anna Hackett added 11 points, eight rebounds and six assists in the win.  For the Red Dragons (0-3), Samantha Szkotak had nine points and 10 rebounds. 

KEAN COUGAR CLASSIC

Most Valuable Player
Sara Villanueva, Lewis & Clark

All-Tournament Team
Samantha Szkotak, Oneonta State
Anna Hackett, Salisbury
Naimah Clemons, Kean
Simone Smith, Kean
Kristina Williams, Lewis & Clark