Box Score

NEWARK, NJ – Rutgers-Newark's upset bid against No. 6 William Paterson came up just short in a 75-71 overtime loss in a New Jersey Athletic Conference game in The Golden Dome Arena.

Freshman forward Jade Howard had 16 points, six rebounds and two steals to lead a balanced attack for the Scarlet Raiders (15-7, NJAC 6-5), but the Pioneers (22-1, NJAC 11-1) got 25 points, 14 rebounds and three blocked shots from senior forward April Smith.

Raider sophomore guard ShaQuanna Marshall, who finished with 13 points and six assists, made the second of two free throws with 11 seconds left in regulation to knot the score at 63-63.  The Pioneers missed a pair of inside shots in the final five seconds to send the game into an extra period.  The score was tied four times and the lead changed hands four times during the final 7:38 of the second half.

In overtime, the Raiders played without senior guard Kendra Johnson who had fouled out in the final minute of regulation after posting a dozen points.  Freshman forward Sharee Gordon battled inside for nine points and four rebounds for Rutgers-Newark while sophomore forward Jasmine Daniels equaled her career-high with 13 rebounds to go along with seven points before fouling out in overtime.

The Raider bench outscored their counterparts, 21-10, behind the play of senior forward Lori Nieves (eight points, seven rebounds and three assists) and Gordon.  Senior guard Brittany Smith pulled down seven rebounds, dished off four assists and made three steals.

WPU sophomore forward Dana Jeter netted eight of her 13 points in the extra period and finished with 10 rebounds, a team-high 10 rebounds and a game-high four steals.  Senior guard BriAnna Lucas poured in 18 points with five rebounds, three assists and three steals.  She helped the Pioneers make 19 of 23 free throws by hitting eight of nine from the line.

The Raiders slipped into sole possession of third place in the NJAC North Division with the loss coupled with Montclair State's 70-42 win over New Jersey City.  The Red Hawks (17-7, NJAC 7-5) have only Ramapo left on their agenda in a week.  An MSU win over the Roadrunners (15-8, NJAC 5-6) would lock up the second seed in the division for the upcoming NJAC Championship Tournament.

The Raiders can seize one of the three North Division playoff slots with a win over Ramapo on Saturday in The Golden Dome.  A victory would give Rutgers-Newark a sweep of the regular-season set between the teams.

For Rutgers-Newark to gain a second seed and a home game for the opening round of the six-team tournament the Raiders will have to sweep Ramapo and New Jersey City AND Montclair State would have to lose to Ramapo in its season finale.

Rutgers-Newark celebrates Senior Day in an NJAC doubleheader against Ramapo on Saturday.  Smith, Nieves and Johnson will be honored in a pregame ceremony prior to their final regular season home contest.  The women tip off at 6 p.m. with the men's game to follow at 8.