Box Score

BROOKLYN, NY – Rutgers-Newark posted a pair of layups in the final nine seconds to stun Brooklyn College, 56-55, in the West Quad Center.

After sophomore forward Jade Howard put back a missed shot with nine seconds left, she missed the ensuing free throw.  After snaring the defensive rebound, Bulldog senior guard Charnelle Saint Laurent was tied up by Raider freshman guard Maria Simmons.  The possession arrow gave the Raiders the ball and on the inbounds pass Simmons fed sophomore guard ShaQuanna Marshall for the game-winning layup with five seconds remaining.

Howard finished with a game-high 18 points while adding 10 rebounds and four assists while Simmons registered a game-high seven assists to go along with 11 points and five steals.  Marshall came up with a game-high six steals plus eight points, five rebounds and five assists.

Sophomore center Sharee Gordon came off the bench to connect on three of four field goals on her way to eight points, six rebounds and three blocked shots.  Junior forward Jasmine Daniels added six points, six rebounds and two assists while junior center Jewell Palmer notched five points and four rebounds.

Saint Laurent paced Brooklyn College (9-5) with 16 points and seven rebounds while senior center Tiffany Thompson and junior forward Vanessa D'Ambrosi had 11 and 10 rebounds, respectively, to help the hosts control the boards, 50-42.

Rutgers-Newark reeled off the final eight points of the first half to lead by their biggest margin at the half, 32-23.

Three times in the second half, the Raiders led by 11 points, but Brooklyn would not buckle.

A free throw by Saint Laurent with 6:24 left capped a 9-0 Brooklyn run which trimmed the Rutgers-Newark lead to 48-46.  After Howard put the Raiders up 52-48 with 4:51 left, the Bulldogs answered with a jumper by senior guard Brittany Bowen and a trey by Saint Laurent to seize their first lead of the half. 

A pair of free throws by sophomore guard Nicole Francomano staked Brooklyn to a 55-52 lead with 16 ticks remaining and set the stage for the final frantic 10 seconds.  Howard snared a missed 3-point attempt by freshman Laura Shakiri to start the decisive chain of events.

After a time out by Brooklyn College, Saint Laurent missed on a 3-point jumper at the buzzer.

Rutgers-Newark visits Rutgers-Camden for a New Jersey Athletic Conference doubleheader on Wednesday.  The women's game tips off at 6 p.m. with the men to follow at 8.