Women's Basketball

Jackson, Jackman Named Finalists for NCAA Division III All-American Team

ATLANTA (3/10/09) - For the second straight season, Kean University had two players named finalists for the NCAA Division III State Farm Coaches' All-America Basketball team, as senior Ebony Jackson (Newark, N.J.) and junior Cardiss Jackman (Tobyhanna, Pa.) were named finalist for Region 3 on Tuesday morning.

Last year, senior guard Melissa Beyruti (Union City, N.J.) and center Chari' Cooper were both named finalists, as Beytruti was named to the 10-member National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III State Farm Coaches' All-America Basketball Team and Cooper earned State Farm Coaches' All-America Team Honorable Mention honors. 

The program's all-time leading scorer, Beyruti suffered a season-ending knee injury early this past season and has already been granted a medical hardship waiver to return to the court next year.  Cooper closed out her Kean career last year as the program's all-time leading rebounder, while also ranking third in NCAA Division III career history.

Jackson (pictured right) and Jackman become the sixth and seventh players under 11^th-year head coach Michele Sharp to earn the regional All-American honor.

A three-time New Jersey Athletic Conference all-star, Jackson also earned NJAC first-team honors this season after leading the team in assists (149), ranking third in the conference in assists per game (4.96) and second in assist to turnover ratio (1.59).  She also finished second on the team in scoring (11.7 ppg) and steals (56), while adding 3.9 rebounds per game.

The program's all-time leader in career assists (639), she also ranks in the top 15 in NCAA Division III career history.  A four-year starter at point guard, Jackson became the 16^th player in program history to score 1,000 career points, closing out her career ranking sixth in school history with 1,250 points. 

Joining Jackson on the NJAC first-team, Jackman (pictured left) led the team and ranked second in the conference in scoring (16.9 ppg) and was third in three-point field goals made (54/1.86) to help fill the void of Beyruti.  Jackman, who also was second on the team in assists (76) and fourth in rebounding (4.8) and steals (51), scored in double-figures in all but four games and knocked down at least one three-point field goal in all but three games. 

A three-year starter, Jackman scored at least 20 points in 11 games and became the 17^th player in school history to score 1,000 career points.  Entering her senior year, she ranks 15^th in program history with 1,100 career points. 

The Cougars advanced to their third straight NCAA tournament, posting a first-round victory over Marymount University.  Kean finished the season with a 22-8 record to win at least 20 games for the third straight year.