Box Score

GLASSBORO, NJ – Rutgers-Newark muscled past Rowan, 72-39, in Esby Gym to finish its New Jersey Athletic Conference slate and move closer to a possible home date in the upcoming league championship tournament.

Sophomore forward Jade Howard dominated inside with team highs of 16 points, eight rebounds and five steals while junior guard ShaQuanna Marshall hit eight of 10 free throws while tallying 13 points, seven rebounds, five steals and three assists.

Freshman guard Maria Simmons added a dozen points, three rebounds, four steals, two assists and two blocked shots while junior center Jewell Palmer notched eight points and six rebounds.  Junior forward Jasmine Daniels helped spearhead a defense which forced 38 turnovers while totaling seven rebounds, six points, three steals and two assists.

Rookie guard Dominique Roberts and freshman forward Devinn Bright added six points apiece while freshman guard Laura Shakiri netted five.  Bright also had five rebounds and three steals.

Sophomore guard Bria Hill paced Rowan with a dozen points, five rebounds, two assists, two blocked shots and a game-high six steals.  Junior guard Alexis Govan hauled down a game-high 10 rebounds and added eight points.

Marshall and Simmons had eight points apiece as the Raiders turned 20 Prof turnovers into 19 points to take a commanding 37-18 hafltime lead.

Howard scored 10 points in the second half as Rutgers-Newark pulled away to lead by as many as 37 points.

The Scarlet Raiders (16-8, NJAC 10-6) completed a regular-season series sweep over the Profs (5-19, NJAC 1-14) to seize sole possession of fifth place in the NJAC standings.  The top six teams make the conference's post-season playoff.  Ramapo (16-7, NJAC 9-5), which Rutgers-Newark swept in the regular-season series, hosts Richard Stockton (11-11, NJAC 6-8) on Monday before visiting William Paterson (18-6, NJAC 11-4) on Wednesday to complete its regular season.  A loss by Ramapo in either game would boost the Raiders into the fourth seed where they would ironically host the Roadrunners in next Saturday's opening round of the playoffs.  Rutgers-Newark cannot finish higher than fourth.

Rutgers-Newark hosts Kean in a doubleheader on Wednesday in The Golden Dome Arena.  The women's game – which is not an NJAC contest because of NCAA infractions levied against the Cougars – tips off at 6 p.m. with the men to follow in a league game at 8.

It will be Senior Night for the men's team, but the Raider women do not have a senior on the roster.