Newark, NJ: The Rutgers-Newark University women's basketball team handed Ramapo College their first loss of the season 65-53 tonight at the Golden Dome. The Scarlet Raiders improve to 3-1 overall and 1-0 in the NJAC while the Roadrunners now stand at 4-1 overall and 0-1 in the conference.
Samantha Rinaldi posted a team high 19 points for the Roadrunners while
Jenna Harsh tallied 11 points and nine rebounds.
Tia Solomon collected a team high ten rebounds while she posted two points, one assist, one block and one steal while
Alie Wickersheim and
Cherie Smedile each tallied nine points in the game. Wickersheim also grabbed eight rebounds and a team high three blocks.
The Scarlet Raiders led for most of the first quarter before an and-one play from Wickersheim and a three-pointer from Smedile put the Roadrunners up one 15-14 heading into the second period. With 4:04 left in the second, Rinaldi converted on an and-one play recording a layup and free throw to take a one-point lead 24-23. The Scarlet Raiders went on a mini 5-0 run to take a four-point lead 28-24 with less than two minutes on the clock before the Roadrunners scored two separate free throws from
Amber Sagan and Solomon to close out the first half as the Scarlet Raiders led 28-26.
The Roadrunners couldn't overcome the deficit in the third period as the Scarlet Raiders led for the whole quarter. They stretched their lead to eight in the first two minutes of action with an 6-0 run before Smedile sank a three-pointer for Ramapo to come within five 34-29 with less than eight to play. Ramapo shrunk the lead to three 38-35 with a basket from Harsh before the Scarlet Raiders stretched their lead back to eight 43-35 with less than two minutes left to play in the quarter. They took their biggest lead in the game 46-37 with 36 seconds on the clock on a layup from Faith Ashby before Rinaldi sank a pair of free throws for Ramapo 46-39. Dorian Capurso scored a basket as time expired in the third quarter as the Scarlet Raiders went up nine 48-39.
A 7-1 run by Ramapo in the fourth quarter brought them within three 49-46 capped off by a jumper from
Stacey Porzl with 6:18 on the clock. Rutgers-Newark countered with a three-pointer form Elisha India Cross 52-46 with less than six minutes on the clock. Ramapo cut the lead to three once again with 4:26 on the clock with a free throw from Wickersheim before the Scarlet Raiders stretched their lead to 14 with a 10-0 run capped off with a three-pointer from Louise An Borja 63-49 with 1:02 on the clock. Ramapo outscored the Scarlet Raiders 4-2 in the final 44 seconds as Rutgers-Newark won 65-53 in NJAC conference action.
The Roadrunners shot 27% (16-58) from the floor, 22% (4-18) from the three-point line and 73% (17-23) from the free throw line. The Ramapo defense forced 16 Scarlet Raider turnovers that led to seven points for the Roadrunners. Ramapo also scored 26 points in the paint and 15 second chance points. The Roadrunners also out rebounded Rutgers-Newark 45-36.
Ashby tallied 19 points for Rutgers-Newark and Dorian Capurso who posted a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. The team shot 38% (20-52) from the field, 28% (6-21) from the three-point line and 54% (19-35) from the free throw line. The Scarlet Raiders defense posted 24 Ramapo turnovers which led to 19 points for Rutgers-Newark.
Ramapo returns to action when they travel to #24 Montclair State University on Wednesday, November 28th in a NJAC match-up at 6pm.
