NJAC Release

PITMAN, N.J. (November 10, 2016) – The Rutgers University-Newark women's basketball team was picked seventh in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Preseason Poll, it was announced Thursday morning by the league office. Rutgers-Newark was also picked as the conference's 'Dark Horse' candidate.
 
Stockton University topped the poll of the league's 10 head coaches, receiving six first-place votes, while Montclair State University came in second (four first-place votes). Kean University finished third, The College of New Jersey was fourth and Rowan University came in fifth. William Paterson University was one spot ahead of the Scarlet Raiders, while Rutgers University-Camden, Ramapo College and New Jersey City University rounded things out.
 
"Our conference is so competitive," said second-year Head Coach Ashley Cieplicki. "Every night inside the conference is a battle, and I am excited to see how our returners and newcomers fight day-in and day-out throughout the NJAC season."
 
The Scarlet Raiders will open their 2016-17 season Tuesday at Centenary College, and after playing in the Mayor's Cup at Hartwick College November 19 and 20, R-N will visit New Jersey City University on November 22 in its conference opener. The team's home opener is against NJAC rival Montclair State December 3.
 
Rutgers-Newark returns a solid nucleus from the 2015-16 team, and Cieplicki hopes that group meshes with an incredibly talented group of newcomers.
 
The Scarlet Raiders won four league contests last year, and they are eyeing a berth in the conference tournament come late-February. The team last reached in the NJAC Championship Tournament in 2014-15, making the semifinals thanks to an upset of Rowan in the opening round.
 
Fans can expect the 2016-17 Rutgers-Newark women's basketball roster to be unveiled late Thursday morning, and a full season preview will be posted Monday afternoon at www.rutgersnewarkathletics.com.
 
For all the latest on Rutgers-Newark women's hoops, fans can follow @RN_WBB on twitter and Instagram, and for the latest on everything R-N athletics, follow @ScarletRaiders.