Box Score

NEWARK, NJ – Freshman guard Laura Shakiri poured in a career-high 23 points to pace Rutgers-Newark to a 65-57 New Jersey Athletic Conference victory over Richard Stockton in The Golden Dome.

Shakiri drained five 3-point jumpers and added a game-high five steals while junior forward Jewell Palmer worked inside for a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds to help the Scarlet Raiders (5-3, NJAC 3-2) snap a two-game losing streak in the league.

Senior forward Che'Na Thompson led the Ospreys (3-2, NJAC 2-2) with 13 points, nine rebounds and three steals while sophomore forward Alex Nardoza posted team highs of 15 points and four assists.    Senior forward Alexa Ryan added 10 points, seven rebounds, three steals and three assists.

Freshman guard Dominique Roberts equaled her career high with seven assists as the Raiders overcame 26 turnovers to post the win. 

Sophomore center Jade Howard netted nine points and grabbed just two rebounds before fouling out after just 18 minutes on the floor, but sophomore center Sharee Gordon came in to contribute six points, seven rebounds, a game-high four blocked shots and two steals.

Shakiri nailed four of her eight 3-point shots in the opening period to help the Raiders shoot 55% (11-20) overall and forge a 32-23 lead despite 13 turnovers.  Roberts off-set four turnovers with five assists in the half.

A short jumper by Thompson gave the Ospreys an 8-3 lead just inside of four minutes into the contest before Rutgers-Newark reeled off seven straight points.  Daniels and Howard wrapped buckets around Shakiri's second trey of the contest to make it 10-8, Raiders.

The lead changed hands once more before the Raiders went on a 13-0 run fueled by a pair of Shakiri long-range jumpers to make it 23-13 with 6:45 left.

In the second half, the Ospreys trimmed the Raider advantage to 38-35 on a layup by Thompson with 15:05 remaining, but Stockton would never draw even.  Gordon hit a short baseline jumper with 9:56 left to push the lead to 49-36 and the Ospreys never got closer than four in the final minute of play.

The Raiders made 19 of 22 foul shots in the second half when the Ospreys were forced to foul with Shakiri knocking down all eight of her tries and Palmer draining five of five from the line.

Rutgers-Newark is at Ramapo on Wednesday for their final NJAC doubleheader before the semester break.  The women's game tips off at 5:30 p.m. with the men to follow at 7:30 in the Bradley Center.