Box Score
NEWARK, NJ – Sophomore center
Jade Howard netted 15 of her 20 points in the second half as Rutgers-Newark battled past New Jersey City, 67-62, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference game in The Golden Dome Arena.
Howard, who made all six of her shots from the floor in the second period, capped an 8-0 run with a layup which put the Scarlet Raiders (4-1, NJAC 2-0) ahead for good at 52-45 with 10:35 left. Freshman guard
Laura Shakiri started the rally with a 3-point jumper before sophomore center
Sharee Gordon converted a traditional 3-point play.
The Gothic Knights (1-3, NJAC 0-2) reeled off the next six points finished by jumper by sophomore guard Ashley Vazquez, who notched a game-high 22 points, with 8:42 remaining to trim their deficit to 52-51, but Rutgers-Newark never gave up the advantage.
Howard made back-to-back inside baskets to make it 62-55 with 3:39 left, but New Jersey City bounced back to trail by just 65-62 with 17 seconds left on a 3-point jumper by Vazquez. Howard and junior forward
Jewell Palmer each made the second of two free throw chances during the final 13 seconds to finalize the scoring.
Vazquez netted 13 points, hitting three of four shots from beyond the arc, in the first half as the Gothic Knights scratched out a 35-33 lead. Palmer, who finished with 13 points and six rebounds, kept the Raiders close with 11 points in the opening 20 minutes.
Howard added seven rebounds, two assists and two blocked shots to her line while Shakiri hit three of five shots from long range to finish with 11 points for the Raiders. Freshman guard
Maria Simmons notched game highs of six assists, six steals and three blocked shots while adding four points and four rebounds. Junior forward
Jasmine Daniels pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds, scored eight points and dished out three assists. Gordon tallied eight points and four rebounds.
Vazquez added three rebounds and three assists to her point total for NJCU while senior guard Gabrielle Rivera contributed nine points and four assists. Senior forward Maxine Kaminski chipped in seven points, five rebounds and two assists.
The Raiders won their third straight game at the foul line where they converted 23 of 38 while the visitors made seven of 11 in a game that was virtually even in every other category.
Rutgers-Newark visits Montclair State on Saturday for an NJAC doubleheader. The men's game tips off at 1 p.m. with the men to follow at 3.
