Ewing , NJ … Junior guard Alexa Shields (Oakhurst , NJ /Wall) finished with 19 points matching her career-high and a season-best five steals to help The College of New Jersey's women's basketball team to a 78-44 victory over Ramapo College in New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) action on Saturday afternoon in Packer Hall. The Lions improve to 9-2 overall and 5-1 in the NJAC and extended their win streak to nine games, while Ramapo drops to 6-5 on the season and 2-3 in the conference.

Junior guard Tiara Simpkins (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) tallied a season-high 13 points, four rebounds, and three steals, while junior forward Erin Frank (Toms River, NJ/Toms River East) recorded her first career double-double with 10 points and a personal-best 10 rebounds. Also helping the TCNJ on the glass was sophomore forward Breanne Depken (Oradell , NJ /River Dell) as she pulled down a career-high 12 boards plus six points and personal-best three steals.

Junior guard Vanessa Vargas (Union City, NJ/Emerson) came off the bench to lead the Roadrunners with nine points, four assists, and four steals, while sophomore forward Kristina Cwiekalo (S. Plainfield, NJ/S. Plainfield) added eight points and six rebounds. Freshman guard Olga Manukhina (Bayonne , NJ /Bayonne ) was Ramapo' leading rebounder with eight.

The Lions posted a 9-0 lead at 17:44 before sophomore guard Keona Palmer (Port Reading, NJ/Woodbridge) put Ramapo on the board with her jumper at 16:50. TCNJ shot an impressive 40.0 percent (6-for-15) from behind the arc to own a 43-25 margin at the half and forced 18 first-half turnovers. Shields led all players with 12 points in the first stanza.

For the game, the Lions had 22 steals while forcing 33 turnovers and limiting Ramapo to 26.7 percent shooting (12 of 45), including a dismal 13.0 percent in the second period.

Freshman Sara Best (High Bridge , NJ /Voorhees) added eight points off the bench for TCNJ and senior tri-captain Theresa DiMedio (Berlin , NJ /Camden Catholic) had eight as well. For the Roadrunners, Palmer and rookie guard Natalie Zacharias (Howell , NJ /Msgr. Donovan) each had eight points with Palmer grabbing five rebounds.

The Lions return to action on January 10 when TCNJ travels to Salisbury University at 6:00. Ramapo travels to William Paterson University on January 11 at 6:00 in Packer Hall.