Box Score
EWING, NJ – Rutgers-Newark shut down The College of New Jersey to earn a 48-37 win in the opening round of the New Jersey Athletic Conference Championship Tournament in Packer Gym.
The Scarlet Raiders (18-7) advance to the semifinals at top-seeded William Paterson on Tuesday at 7 p.m. The Pioneers swept the regular season series against the Raiders.
Senior forward
Lori Nieves had 14 points and seven rebounds for R-N while sophomore guard
ShaQuanna Marshall contributed nine points and team highs of a dozen rebounds and four assists.
It was swarming defense that proved the difference – as usual – for Rutgers-Newark. Sophomore forward
Jasmine Daniels came up with six of the Raiders' 10 steals as TCNJ was forced into 19 turnovers. The Lions (17-9) made just 20.4% (10-49) of their field goals. Daniels also snared seven rebounds as the R-N controlled the boards, 48-38.
Senior forward
Brittany Smith came off the bench for nine points, two steals and a pair of blocked shots while senior guard
Kendra Johnson battled through an icy shooting performance for eight points and five rebounds. Freshman forward
Jade Howard, shackled with foul trouble, added seven rebounds and six points.
Senior guard Jessica Imhof was the only Lion in double figures with a dozen points as the Raiders held an opponent under 40 points for the fifth time this season. The 20.4% field goal accuracy was a season low for a Raider opponent.
Sophomore forward Liz West had six points and a dozen rebounds for TCNJ while senior forward Kelsey Kutch came off the bench for four points and eight rebounds.
In the opening half, Rutgers-Newark smothered the Lions to take control of the game after a West field goal just 18 seconds into the game gave TCNJ its only lead. Nieves and Howard had four points apiece as the Raiders ran off eight straight points on its way to a 15-4 lead. The Lions, who shot a chilly 20% (5-25) from the field in the opening half, got only a pair of free throws from Imhof during a 9-minute, 56-second stretch. TCNJ committed 14 turnovers against R-N pressure with Daniels coming up with four steals in the period.
It marks the second straight season that the Raiders have opened their NJAC tournament quest with a win over the Lions. Rutgers-Newark downed TCNJ, 63-48, in The Golden Dome in last season's opening round to start their charge to the first conference championship game appearance in program history. After a 54-51 upset of heavily-favored Kean in the semifinals, the Raiders fell to William Paterson, 63-49, in the title game.
