HOBOKEN, N.J. (November 27, 2011) – The Stevens Institute of Technology women's basketball team hung tough with No. 24 Kean University on Sunday afternoon in a close game that featured five ties and eight lead changes. The Ducks (2-3) led at halftime 38-36, but it was the Cougars (4-1) who ultimately came away with a gritty 66-58 victory. Jillian Barrett (Philadelphia, Pa.) posted her second-straight double-double for Stevens.

Stevens played well from the tip, drawing multiple Kean fouls to land in the bonus early in the first half and somewhat neutralize the Cougar's press. Molly Herforth (Pompton Plains, N.J.) hit back-to-back three pointers with 6:45 left in the first to give Stevens a four point lead, which increased to six when Barrett (17 pts, 15 rebs) hit a three with 48 ticks remaining in the first.

In the second half Stevens continued to hang with the Cougars, increasing their lead to eight with 15:49 remaining as Dawn Garcia (Brooklyn, N.Y.) had two-straight buckets and Avis Benjamin (Queens, N.Y.) scored another one to make it three consecutive scoring possessions for the Ducks. That lead would be the host's high-water mark for the afternoon.

The final period was rather sloppy, with the teams combining for 19 turnovers and just seven field goals over the first 10 minutes.

It was at this point that Kean began to assert itself, ultimately causing 15 Stevens turnovers in the second half. Kean also dominated in the paint, outscoring the Ducks 40-18 in that department and holding a 48-30 edge in rebounds for the game.

The Cougars were paced by Naimah Clemons (Newark, N.J.) who had 24 points and Brittanie Payne (Willingboro, N.J.) who scored 14 and had nine boards.

Barrett led Stevens with 17, followed by Garcia and Benjamin with 10 apiece. Herforth had nine of her own on the strength of three 3-point buckets.

Stevens will take to the hardwood again when it travels to SUNY-New Paltz on Tuesday for a 7 p.m. tip.