From NYU Athletics

The New York University women's basketball team, ranked #4 in the nation by D3hoops.com and #5 by USA Today, defeated Kean University 73-68 in the first round of the NYU Holiday Classic on Saturday, January 2, at the Coles Sports Center in Manhattan.

The Violets are now 9-0 this season, while the Cougars, who had won five straight games, dropped to 8-3.

The victory did not come easy for NYU, which saw its 22-point third-quarter lead evaporate to just one point late in the fourth.

However, Amy Harioka made four free throws in the final 16 seconds as the Violets held off the Cougars.

Following a first half which featured nine lead changes, including a five-point lead for Kean, the Violets took a game-high 62-40 lead on Megan Dawe's layup with 2:09 left in the third quarter. 

The Cougars scored the next four points to pull within 62-44 after three, then proceeded to outscore the Violets 24-7 to get within one point, 69-68, on Marajiah Bacon's jumper with 49 seconds left.

"We jumped out to a large lead and I think that was because our press was a big factor in the half court," said NYU Head Coach Lauren Hall-Gregory. "In the first part of the second half we did a good job with team defense, but when we got up big we kind of let down."

Harioka missed a three-pointer on NYU's next possession, but Liv Linebarger grabbed the offensive rebound and got the ball out to Harioka, who was fouled with 16 seconds left and made both free throws.

After a Kean turnover, Harioka was fouled again and made both free throws to seal the victory for NYU. 

"We had a pretty big lead, but we kind of let go a little on defense so they took advantage of that," Harioka said. "It was definitely a good challenge for us, but I think having a veteran team helped us find a way to win." 

Dawe scored a team-high 17 points for NYU. Harioka finished with 15, while Kaitlyn Read recorded a double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds.

HIGHLIGHTS:

- Riley Wurtz fell just short of a triple-double for the Violets, finishing with nine points, rebounds and assists before fouling out with 4:07 left in the game.

"Riley has a level of toughness that not many players have," Hall-Gregory added. "It's all desire and 'want-to' and the other players build off of that. Also, being a senior she does a great job not letting the pressure get to her. 

- Read also collected four assists and five steals, while Harioka added four steals and five rebounds.

- Bacon led Kean with a game-high 26 points. Jaquetta Owens