Waltham, MA - The Oberlin College women's basketball team erased a 12-point fourth-quarter deficit to knock off the Kean University Cougars, 80-72, on Friday night at the Brandeis University Judges Invitational.

After Oberlin controlled the bulk of the game throughout the first half, the Cougars caught fire in the third quarter, out-scoring the Yeowomen 28-17 in the frame to take a 62-56 lead into the fourth quarter. However, Oberlin would buckle down defensively to complete the comeback by holding Kean to just 10 fourth-quarter points. 

The Cougars led 68-56 with just under nine minutes to go, but a 13-0 run that featured five points from Angela Kumler and six from Camille Zinaich had the Yeowomen back out in front, 69-68, with 4:48 left to expire. 

After Kean briefly retook the lead, an old-fashioned 3-point play from Zinaich gave the Yeowomen a 72-71 lead with 2:30 still on the clock and Oberlin would never trail again as its stingy defense held the Cougars to just one more point the rest of the way. 

Oberlin finished a perfect 14-of-14 at the free throw line with 13 of those charity tosses coming in the fourth quarter. 

Senior Alyson Jefferson poured in 18 points in the win, while Kumler matched her with a career-high 18 points to go along with six rebounds, five steals, four assists, and three blocks. Zinaich finished with 15 points and dished five assists in just 15 minutes of work as she fought through foul trouble. 

Oberlin scored the first four points of the game but no more than two possessions would ever separate the two foes throughout the opening quarter. A Gina Lombard layup at the 3:03 mark gave Oberlin an 18-13 cushion but the Cougars would even the affair with a mini 5-0 spurt. Zinaich would respond by putting the Yeowomen back out in front but neither side would find twine for the final 2:02 of the session as Oberlin took a 20-18 edge into the second quarter. 

A Lily Najmulski triple-hit to open the frame jump started a 7-2 Oberlin spurt to make it a 27-20 OC advantage but Kean answered back with a 12-5 response run to even the count at 32-32 with 3:33 left in the half. However, Jefferson was able to will the Yeowomen to a 39-34 halftime lead, scoring five of her 10 first-half points in the closing minutes.

Oberlin cashed in 25 points on 20 Kean turnovers while shooting an even 50 percent from the floor with 30 makes on 60 shots. 

The Yeowomen will play Brandeis tomorrow at 2 p.m. in the Judges Invitational championship game.