Box Score

GALLOWAY, NJ – Rutgers-Newark pulled away from Richard Stockton in the second half behind the play of junior forward Jasmine Daniels and sophomore center Sharee Gordon for a 63-53 New Jersey Athletic Conference victory in the RSC Sports Center.

The Raiders (14-6, NJAC 8-4) wrapped up an NJAC Championship Tournament berth with the regular-season sweep of the Ospreys (9-9, NJAC 4-7).  Rutgers-Newark has won six of its last seven games with its only loss coming to unbeaten Montclair State (20-0, NJAC 12-0) on January 19.

Gordon had 10 of her 12 points, six of her seven rebounds and two blocked shots in the second half while Daniels tallied nine of her 11 points and five of her seven rebounds as the Scarlet Raiders broke open a tight game.

Daniels and Gordon had six points each to fuel a decisive 20-4 run which turned a 3-point deficit into a 49-36 lead with 9:39 left in the game.  Stockton never got closer than six points in the final minutes.

Junior center Jewell Palmer, who registered her third double-double of the season with team highs of 16 points and 10 rebounds, shouldered the burden in the opening half when Rutgers-Newark scratched out a 27-26 halftime lead.  Palmer netted 10 points, hauled down six rebounds, made three steals and blocked a shot while playing the entire first period.  Her jumper with 10 seconds left gave the Raiders the slim halftime edge.

Freshman guard Maria Simmons dished out seven assists, made a game-high five steals, snared five rebounds and score four points for Rutgers-Newark while freshman guard Laura Shakiri nailed a pair of first-half treys on her way to eight points.  Sophomore forward Jade Howard finished with seven points and four rebounds.

Senior forward Che'Na Thompson netted a dozen points, grabbed seven rebounds and collected two blocked shots for Stockton while sophomore guard Alex Nardoza recorded 10 points, seven assists, two steals and a blocked shot.  Sophomore guard Jennifer Galamb chipped in 11 points and a pair of assists.

There were five ties and nine lead changes in the game before the Raiders' second-half spurt.  The rally and Rutgers-Newark's 22-9 advantage in points off the bench proved to be the difference.

Rutgers-Newark hosts William Paterson in an NJAC doubleheader in The Golden Dome Arena on Wednesday night.  The women tip off at 6 p.m. with the men's game following at 8.

The Pioneer women are tied for third place in the 10-team lead with the Raiders with identical overall and conference marks.  WPU won the initial meeting in Wayne on December 5, 69-52.