Union, NJ – Kean University's Marajiah Bacon scored a game-high 29 points while sis Meisha Bacon had seven of her nine in the fourth quarter as the Cougars rallied back for a 73-67 win over Montclair State at the Harwood Arena on Wednesday evening.

Jaquetta Owens added 17 points as Kean (10-7, 5-5 NJAC) rallied back from a 12-point deficit in the fourth quarter to gain a split of the season series with the Red Hawks. Montclair State won the first meeting 73-48 at the Panzer Athletic Center on November 21.

Sophomore KATIE SIRE had a double-double of 19 points and 15 rebounds for Montclair (11-6, 7-3 NJAC), which led for a majority of the contest before being outscored 21-14 in the final period.

Sire, who also recorded four assists, scored nine points with junior ZOE CURTIS adding eight off the bench in the first half as Montclair State 21-20 after one quarter and 38-34 at halftime. SAGE BENNETT hit two free throws with 32 seconds left in the first to put MSU in front and a jumper by Curtis with 3:07 to go before halftime staked the Red Hawks to a 33-26 advantage.  YAZMINE LACEY beat the halftime buzzer with a fast-break layup as Montclair State led by four at the break.

Bennett started off the second half with a three-pointer and a triple from RACHAEL KRAUSS with 7:22 left in the third pushed the Red Hawks' lead to 45-34. A Krauss layup gave MSU its largest lead at 50-38 however the Cougars closed out the period on a 14-3 run. Eden Obu hit twice from the line pulling the Cougars within 53-52 heading into the fourth.

Owens put Kean in front 58-57 with just under seven minutes remaining in the fourth however Krauss drilled a three to regain the lead for MSU, 63-61 with 4:58 left. Meisha Bacon tied the game 12 seconds later but Sire's basket on the other end swung the score in favor of Montclair State 65-63. Owens' three-point play on the ensuing possession gave the Cougars the lead and two free throws by Diana Todaro with 3:26 on the clock extended the lead to 69-65.

Sire countered for MSU with a basket which was matched by Marajiah Bacon with 2:58 to play as Kean remained in front 71-67. Each team would go through a series of misses before Kean closed out the game with three foul shots in the final 36 seconds.

Krauss finished with 13 points and seven rebounds while Curtis added 11 points along with eight rebounds.  The Red Hawks shot 36 percent from the field (25-of-68), including 7-of-20 from behind the arc. Montclair also struggled from the free throw line connecting on only 10 of its 22 attempts.

MSU is scheduled to play at The College of New Jersey on Saturday, January 23 at 1:00 pm.