Galloway, NJ – Stockton University (9-7, 5-4 NJAC) jumped out to an early lead and held on for an 83-72 victory over Kean University (6-9, 3-6 NJAC) on Saturday afternoon. Lea Mendolla (Nutley/Mount St. Dominic) notched her 1,000th career point in the second quarter and fellow senior Sasha Williams (Cherry Hill/CH West) led the Ospreys with a career-high 31 points.
 
Stockton came out on fire to begin the game, running out to a commanding 29-12 lead. Williams led the way with 16 points on perfect 5-5 shooting from the floor and 6-6 from the free throw line. The Ospreys shot 10-19 (52.6%) from the field while holding the Cougars to just 25.0% (5-20) in the frame.
 
Kean rebounded in period number two on the strength of Marajiah Bacon's 11 markers. The Cougars ramped up the pressure on Stockton, forcing seven turnovers that turned into easy baskets as the briefly pulled within four at 41-37.
 
With 1:15 left in the quarter, Mendolla nailed her milestone with a three-pointer to put her over the 1,000-point mark for her career. The shooting guard became the 18 player to score her 1,000th point in a Stockton uniform. Mendolla set the Stockton record for career three-pointers earlier in the week.
 
Mendolla's trey was part of a 9-1 run to close the period as Stockton extended to a 50-38 margin going into the break. The senior scored 12 of her 16 points for the game in the period.
 
Stockton used an 18-4 outburst to run out to a 68-42 lead with 3:45 remaining in the third quarter. Williams led the charge with 10 points. The Cougars answered with the final 11 points of the quarter to cut the margin to 68-53 entering the fourth frame.
 
The Ospreys pushed the lead back up to 18 at 71-53 with 9:53 to play before Kean made one final run. The visitors cut the margin to 78-69 with 2:28 but that was as close as they would come. Two foul shots each by Hailee Porricelli (Howell/Freehold Twp.) and Colleen Branagan (Matawan/Matawan) plus one from Mendolla sealed the game at 83-72 in favor of Stockton.
 
Williams used blistering 12-13 shooting from the field and a perfect 7-7 from the foul line for her 31 points and also blocked three shots. Najha Treadwell (Cinnaminson/Cinnaminson) added a double-double of 21 points and a game-high 19 rebounds, with Mendolla chipping in with 16 markers. Porricelli dished a game-high four assists to go with eight points and a career-high eight rebounds.
 
Bacon led Kean with 25 points and a game-high five steals while Payce Lange added 17 markers. Cindy Foresta grabbed a team-high 10 boards for the Cougars.
 
Stockton will play their second straight home game on Wednesday night when the Ospreys host Rowan University at 6 pm.