NEWARK, NJ – Senior guard Sabrina Sanchez (Keasbey, NJ/Woodbridge HS) poured in a season-high 27 points and added five rebounds, four steals and three assists to lead Rutgers-Newark to a hard-fought, 70-58 win over Rutgers-Camden in The Golden Dome.
NCAA Box Score
Sanchez equaled her career scoring high by downing 12 of 16 shots from the floor, while making two of four from beyond the arc, as the Scarlet Raiders (15-3, NJAC 4-2) won their fourth straight conference game.
Senior point guard Imani Hafiz (Franklinville, NJ/Delsea Regional) netted eight of her team-high 14 points in the opening half when the Scarlet Raptors (6-11, NJAC 0-6) took the fight to the Raiders.
Hafiz, who finished with five assists, four steals and three rebounds, scored on a fastbreak layup with 4:37 left in the opening period to stake the Raptors to a 17-13 lead. But, Sanchez netted six points as Rutgers-Newark closed out the half with a 14-6 run. Rutgers-Camden got no closer than three early in the second period before the Raiders pulled away to a double-digit lead.
RAIDER VISION HIGHLIGHT VIDEO
Senior guard Nerlande Nicolas (Maplewood, NJ/Columbia) had 10 points, four assists and two steals for Rutgers-Newark while senior forward Eni Fageyinbo (Morris Plains, NJ/Parsippany Hills) and junior guard Youngor Kehleay (Eatontown, NJ/Monmouth Regional) chipped in nine points apiece.
Senior guard Krystal Jankowski (Somerdale, NJ/Sterling) made five of six shots from the floor to finish with 10 points for the Raptors while freshman guard Jasmine White (Camden, NJ/Pennsauken Tech) came off the bench for 11 points. Freshman forward Karima Blackwell (Somerdale, NJ/Sterling) added eight points and a game-high eight rebounds as Rutgers-Camden out-rebounded the Raiders, 30-26.
But Rutgers-Newark's pressing defense forced 23 Raptor turnovers which were converted in 23 Raider points.
The Raiders now visit William Paterson for a crucial NJAC twinbill on Wednesday. The women tip off at 6 p.m. with the men to follow at 8 in the WPU Rec Center.
