Women's Basketball

BEYRUTI, COOPER EARN D3HOOPS.COM REGIONAL ALL-STAR HONORS

UNION, N.J. (3/14/07) - Sophomore guard Melissa Beyruti (Union City, N.J.) and junior forward Chari' Cooper (Paulsboro, N.J.) were each tabbed D3hoops.com Atlantic Region All-Stars after leading the Kean University women's basketball team to the New Jersey Athletic Conference Championship and the NCAA Division III Elite Eight.

The tandem led the Cougars to one of the most successful seasons in women's basketball history, coming one win away from advancing to the Final Four. The team tied the program record for wins in a season, finishing the year 27-4 overall.

The most prolific three-point shooter in program history, Beyruti was also named to the NJAC First Team after leading the conference in scoring and three-pointers. She finished the season with 545 points (17.6 points per game) and a school-record 110 three-pointers. The NCAA leader in three pointers per game (3.5), she became the first player in school history (men's or women's) to eclipse 100 three pointers in a season and her 110 treys is tied for fifth all-time in NCAA Division III single-season history.

Beyruti hit the biggest three-pointer in program history when she drained the game-winner in the NJAC championship game as time expired, giving the Cougar a 62-59 victory over host William Paterson University and the program's league record 11th NJAC title.

The sophomore sensation also became the fourth player under Head Coach Michele Sharp to be named a finalist for the 2007 Kodak/Women's Basketball Coaches Association All-America Team for NCAA Division III after earning WBCA Region III All-America honors.

This season, Beyrtui also broke the single-game three-point record on January 24, 2007, when she drained nine three-pointers en-route to a career-high 33 points in the Cougars' 82-48 victory over Rutgers-Camden. She is also the program's all-time three-point leader with 173 career three-pointers.

A two-time D3hoops.com All-Region selection, Cooper led the team and the conference in rebounding for the third straight season, averaging 11.5 rebounds a game to also rank 11th in the nation.

In just three seasons, Cooper became just the third player in school history to grab 1,000 career boards. In 83 career games, Cooper has 1,068 rebounds and is just 16 rebounds away from becoming the program's all-time leading rebounder. The junior also holds the single-game (30 rebounds vs. Rutgers-Camden) and single-season (367 rebounds) rebounding records, both set her rookie season.

Cooper, who earned D3hoops.com Second-Team All-Atlantic Region honors in 2004-05, had 12 double-doubles this season and averaged 9.4 points a game to rank third on the team.

The Cougars advanced to the Elite Eight for just the second time in school history and tied the 1986-87 Final Four squad for most wins in a season.