MADISON, NJ – Freshman Ashley Lawrence reached the Flight “A” championship match while junior Kelly Fitzsimmons downed teammate Mercedes Kuilan in the consolation finals of the “B” flight to highlight Rutgers-Newark's showing in the NJAIAW Championship at Drew University. 

Rutgers-Newark's 2009 NJAIAW Championship Results

Lawrence, who defeated Monmouth's Nicole Lippens, 8-3, to reach the finals, got a first-round bye and a semifinal default victory. Drew's Michelle Gbelama stopped the rookie, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) in championship contest.

Gbelama also knocked Scarlet Raider rookie Lia Salierno into the consolation bracket with an 8-3 decision in the opening round. Salierno downed William Paterson's Lisa Varacallo, 8-3, in consolation play before bowing to Monmouth's Jessica Slinger, 6-4, 6-3.

Fitzsimmons and Kuilan, who each fell in the opening round, downed William Paterson players to reach the Flight “B” finals. Fitzsimmons defeated Sonja Pedersen, 8-1, and Kuilan stopped Delnaz Shalforoosh, 8-5, to set up the all Rutgers-Newark consolation final. Fitzsimmons rallied for a 1-6, 6-1, 10-7 win with the pair playing a 10-point super tie-breaker in the final frame.

Raider sophomore Wanze Li tripped up William Paterson's Jackie Jesus, 8-3, in the opening round before getting ousted from the “C” Flight by an 8-0 loss to Princeton's Katherine McCraken.

Junior Amanda Northrup fell to Monmouth's Diane Washer, 8-0, in the opening round before knocking WPU's Jesus out of the championship, 8-1, in consolation play. Drew's Rebecca Olderman eliminated Northrup, 1-6, 6-4, 11-9.

Rutgers-Newark's non-conference match at Lehman has been cancelled, leaving only a Thursday trip to Western Connecticut State on the ledger.