Mahwah, NJ:  The Ramapo College women's basketball team played host to The College of New Jersey today where the Roadrunners fell in a 70-74 loss to the Lions. The Roadrunners come to an 8-6 overall record and are 2-5 in the NJAC. The Lions improve to 9-5, 6-1 in the NJAC. 
 
The Lions started off strong with a 9-0 run, with two three-point shots scored by Rachel Gazzola and one by Jen Byrne. The Roadrunners answered immediately with two three-point shots made by Bridget Cahill and Cherie Smedile, to chip away. Jessica Repasy scored a clutch layup to close a 6-0 run made by the Roadrunners, to tie up the game. TCNJ fired back with an explosive three-point shot from outside the ark, followed by another three-pointer by the Lions. Abbegail Whildin replied with a key three-point goal to make it a three-point game, 23-26. At the end of the first half, the Roadrunners were behind by six.
 
In the first half, the Roadrunners were led by Smedile, who tallied 7 points and also grabbed up 7 rebounds. She was closely followed by Stacey Porzl who contributed 5 points to the Roadrunner's 26. Ramapo shot 39.3% (11-28) from the field, 33.3% (3-9) from the three-point line and 50% (1-2) from the free-throw line. 
 
To continue, the Lions found strength in Gazzola and Byrne who tallied nine and eight points, respectively. Gazzola also led the team in rebounds, snatching five to contribute to the team's total of 21. TCNJ shot 27.8% (10-36) from the field, 34.8% (8-23) from the three-point line and 66.7% (4-6) from the free-throw line. 
 
The Lions came out hot from halftime with an 8-0 run, being capped off with a three-point shot made by Sydney Blum, and stopped by a pair of free-throw shots made by Porzl. The Lions kept their fire with an and-one, three points from Blum, increasing the gap to 15, 43-28.  A crucial drive into the paint made by Rapasy ignited what would become a 6-0 run, capped off by a quick two points from Smedile. The teams exchanged shots from the field in the closing few minutes of the third quarter, keeping the Lions ahead, 51-38. The Roadrunners chipped away at the gap with a layup from Rapasy and a pair of foul shots from Porzl. Still in the lead, TCNJ tried to take back the momentum with a quick three from Gazzola, but the Roadrunners kept up the pressure with back to back layups from Samantha Rinaldi and Porzl. The Lions turned it back on with a pair of three point shots from Byrne, but Ramapo matched their energy with some jumpers in the paint from Kaity Potter and Alie Wickersheim, and a free throw shot from Rinaldi, bringing the Roadrunners closer to the Lions, 51-63. Whildin sank a three from the top of the ark to break 60 points for the Roadrunners, making it a six-point game. Rapasy sinks a three-point shot to close the gap to a mere two points with 4.8 seconds left. The fate of the Roadrunners is sealed with a pair of foul shots made by Elle Cimilluca, causing the win for the Lions, 74-70. 
 
The Roadrunners were led by Porzl who scored 17 points, and was closely followed by Samantha Rinaldi who tallied 12 points. Smedile tallied 11 points of her own along with 11 rebounds. The Roadrunners shot 43.3% (26-60) from the field, 33.3% (5-15) from the three-point line and 65% (13-20) from the free-throw line. 
 
The Lions played an energetic game with three players scoring in double digits. Byrne set the bar with 24 points and 12 rebounds and was followed by Gazzola with 14 points and 7 rebounds. TCNJ shot 32.4% (23-71) from the field, 32.5% (13-40) from the three-point line and 65.2% (15-23) from the free-throw line. 
 
The Roadrunners return to action on Wednesday, January 15^th when they host New Jersey City University at 5:30pm at the Bradley Center.