Box Score

NEWARK, NJ – Rutgers-Newark roared back from a 23-point second half deficit to fall just short of William Paterson, 54-53, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference game in The Golden Dome Arena.

Junior guard ShaQuanna Marshall, who netted 18 of her game-high 20 points in the second half, had a desperation 3-point jumper from the left baseline as the horn sounded as the Scarlet Raiders (14-7, NJAC 8-5) fell to the Pioneers (15-6, NJAC 9-4) for the second time this season. 

Marshall connected on all 11 of her second-half free throws while finishing the night with five rebounds, three assists and three steals.  Sophomore reserve center Sharee Gordon and junior starting center Jewell Palmer each notched a double-double.  Gordon finished with 11 points, 10 rebounds and three blocked shots while Palmer notched10 points and 10 rebounds.  Freshman guard Maria Simmons added eight points and three steals.

Junior guard Floriana Borova paced WPU with 15 points, six rebounds, a game-high six steals and seven assists.  Junior forward Dana Jeter also had seven assists for the Pioneers plus three steals.  Freshman guard Shakiri Negron tallied 12 points and sophomore forward Ashley Marfo added 11 points, five rebounds, three steals and two blocked shots.

The Pioneers constructed a 34-13 halftime lead fueled with 20 points off of 24 Raider turnovers.  The lead grew to 38-15 with 17:50 left on a 3-point jumper by Borova.  But Rutgers-Newark methodically reduced the deficit.

In the final two minutes, Simmons hit a jump shot, Marshall dropped in a pair of free throws and Gordon made the second of two free throws to slice the deficit on 54-53.  With 7.8 seconds left, Jeter missed two free throws to give the Raiders a final gasp.

After a timeout with 2.5 ticks left, the Raiders inbounded the ball to Marshall on the baseline but her heavily-defended shot bounced off the rim as the horn sounded.

William Paterson made just five of 16 free throws to keep things close at the end while the Raiders knocked down 18 of 23 chances.  In the final analysis, 33 turnovers and a 1-for-12 shooting night from 3-point range doomed Rutgers-Newark.

The loss dropped the Raiders into sole possession of fifth place in the 10-team conference.  Both WPU and Rutgers-Newark have already secured slots in the upcoming league championship tournament.

Rutgers-Newark visits The College of New Jersey on Saturday for an NJAC doubleheader.  The women's game tips off at 1 p.m. with the men to follow at 3.