Newark, NJ: The Ramapo College women's basketball team held off the Scarlet Raiders of Rutgers-Newark University tonight in a NJAC road win, 71-54. The Roadrunners remain on top of the conference standings at 8-2 while they move to 14-3 overall. Rutgers-Newark moves to 3-14 overall and 1-9 in the conference.
Ramapo opened the game on an 11-0 run before the Scarlet Raiders would get on board.
Bridget Cahill opened the scoring for the Roadrunners with a three pointer before
Jackie Ventricelli and
Jada Thompson scored back-to-back jumpers for a7 7-0 lead.
Olivia Johnstone converted on one of two free throws before Ventricelli capped off the run with a three-pointer of her own for the 11-0 lead. Syncere Lambert put Rutgers on the board with a basket with 5:03 on the clock before Venticelli added a layup to put Ramapo up 13-2. Rutgers-Newark would close the quarter on a 6-4 run as Ramapo held a 17-8 lead.
In the second quarter, the Scarlet Raiders opened with a 7-0 run to come within two, 15-17 with 7:39 on the clock. Thompson scored one from the free throw line before Samiyah Horton added a layup for Rutgers to come within one with less than five to play. Burns added a free throw for the Roadrunners before Ventricelli hit a three-pointer to take a four point lead, 22-17, with 3:28 on the clock. Rutgers-Newark closed out the second quarter on a 6-0 run capped off with a steal from Ebony Odom Barnes and a layup from Horton as the Scarlet Raiders took their first lead of the game, 23-22.
In the third quarter, the Scarlet Raiders opened on a 4-0 run to extend their lead to 27-22 with just over seven minutes left on the clock. Thompson started a 24-2 run which opened up a 46-29 lead that included three three-pointers from the Roadrunners. Cahill contributed with ten points, Thompson and Ventricelli with five each during the run. Ramapo regained the lead with 6:09 on the clock when Cahill sank a three-pointer, 30-29, the Roadrunners then continued on their run scoring 16 points to take a 46-29 lead with 1:40 left in the quarter. The Scarlet Raiders went on a mini 6-3 run to end the third quarter as Ramapo held a 49-35 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
The Scarlet Raiders opened the fourth on a 9-2 run to close the gap before Ventricelli started a 13-2 run with a layup while Cahill and Burns sank back-to-back three-pointers as Ramapo led 64-46 with 3:45 left in the game. Lambert scored one of two free throws before Elish India Cross put in a layup for Rutgers-Newark with 2:50 on the clock. The Scarlet Raiders tacked on five more points including a three-pointer from Renee Houston-Allen. Ramapo added seven points to their lead in the final two minutes of action as they went 5-6 from the free throw line to hold onto the NJAC road victory, 71-54.
Ventricelli led the Roadrunners with 24 points while she added seven rebounds, four steals and one assist. Cahill scored 16 points including 4-9 from the three-point line while recording three rebounds and four assists. Thompson nearly recorded a triple-double as she recorded 13 points, ten rebounds and eight assists. Burns posted a team high 11 rebounds while adding eight points, four steals and one blocked shot. Ramapo shot 34% (23-66) from the field, 33% (8-24) from the three-point line and 54% (17-31) from the free throw line in the game. The Ramapo defense forced 21 Rutgers-Newark turnovers in the game which led to 20 points for the Roadrunners.
Rutgers-Newark had three players score in double figures as they were led by Odom Barnes who posted 16 points and ten rebounds while she added four steals and two blocks. Horton and Cross each added 13 points in the game. The team shot 36% (21-57) from the floor in the game, 36% (4-11) from the three-point line and 61% (8-13) from the free throw line.
The Roadrunners return to action on Saturday, January 21st when they travel to Stockton University for a NJAC game at 1pm.
