The Kean University Women’s Basketball Team was ranked 1st in the NCAA Division III Atlantic Region Standings posted on February 28th.
The Cougars finished the NCAA Tournament with an overall record of 24-5. Kean met Christopher Newport University and fell 80-76.
The Cougars’ Season
The Cougars ended their season prematurely with a loss against Christopher Newport in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, 80-76. While the rest of the game was not as close as the final score, the Cougars worked extremely hard to try and take this win from CNU.
Opening the half, CNU went on a 26-7 run to take a 26-9 lead midway through the first half. The Cougars responded by going on a 25-2 run of their own and took the lead going into halftime at 41-36. Both teams traded buckets in the opening of the second half, but the Cougars held onto their lead 49-46 only 4:14 into the second half.
Both teams took several more runs until CNU extended the lead 79-76 with a pair of free throws with 30 seconds left in the game. The Cougars three-point attempt didn’t work and CNU advanced to the Elite Eight.
This season still had great success as the Cougars won 24 games and made it to the Sweet 16. Head Coach Michele Sharp leads the Cougars but looks to Tiffany Patrick, Naimah Clemons, and Emily Cristaldi for success.
About The Team
Head Coach Michele Sharp is in her 13th season with Kean University and has helped rebuild the program to the elite level of play not seen since the 1980’s. She was named this year’s NJAC Co-Coach of the Year for the second time, but third Coach of the Year award in her career.
The cougars have won 5 conference titles in Sharp’s tenure, as she has posted a 234-124 record in 13 seasons.
Senior Tiffany Patrick was named NJAC Co-Player of the Year and All-NJAC First Team. She was also named D3Hoops.com Atlantic Region Player of the Year and First Team, and ECAC Metro Region First Team.
She averaged 15.2 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.1 blocks, and 2.5 steals per game. Patrick is the 18th player in school history to score over 1,000 career points. Sophomore Naimah Clemons was named to the All-NJAC First Team and D3Hoops.com Atlantic Region Third Team.
She averaged 15 points and 3 assists per game to go along with her 46% from three-point range and 55% from the field. Sophomore Emily Cristaldi was named Rookie of the Year and NJAC Honorable Mention. She averaged 10.9 points per game to go with her 30 steals and 24 assists for the season.
About The School
Kean University is located in Union, NJ and is a world-class, vibrant and diverse university offering more than 48 undergraduate and 35 graduate programs, as well as doctoral programs in psychology and education leadership. Kean prides itself on excellence in academics, strategic investments in both research and cultural facilities and initiatives, and a commitment to the success of every student.
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