Box Score NEWARK, N.J. – Richard Stockton's torrid shooting was the difference as the Ospreys posted an 81-63 New Jersey Athletic Conference win over Rutgers University-Newark in The Golden Dome Arena.
Senior forward
Jade Howard finished with a game-high 19 points for the Scarlet Raiders (6-4, NAJC 3-2) but the Ospreys shot 50 percent from the field in each half which included six for 12 accuracy from the beyond arc.
After the Ospreys jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead, five different Raiders scored during a 10-2 rally which gave the home team its only lead of the night six minutes into the fray. Stockton netted three 3-point jumpers to highlight a 19-3 answering rally which put them in command. Junior forward Marina Lukianov, who contributed seven points during the run, gunned in a trey with 7:29 left in the period to give the visitors a 27-13 lead. A 3-point shot from the left elbow by senior forward Lauren Alwan as the 30-second buzzer was sounding gave the Ospreys their largest lead of the period at 33-17.
Three times in the early second half, Howard hit layups to keep the Raiders within 13 points before Stockton pulled away to lead by as many as 31 points.
Sophomore guard
Maria Simmons notched a career-high eight steals, dished off a game-high five assists and netted 14 points for the Raiders while Howard finished with five rebounds, three steals and two assists.
Junior guard
Arianna Williams knocked down five of nine shots from beyond the arc on her way to 15 points, six rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocked shots. Senior center
Sharee Gordon hauled down a team-high 11 rebounds while adding eight points.
Stockton freshman center Sasha Williams posted a double-double with a dozen points and game highs of 13 rebounds and four blocked shots. Senior guard Alex Nardoza dropped in nine of 10 free throws to finish with team highs of 17 points and four assists while adding four rebounds.
Osprey senior forward Sara Farrell, who shot six of eight from the field, drained both of her 3-point attempts on her way to 14 points and four rebounds. Alwan totaled 13 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals while Lukianov gave Stockton five players in double figures with 14 points.
The Raiders (6-4, NJAC 3-2) saw a 3-game winning streak snapped while Stockton (7-2, NJAC 4-1) reeled off its sixth straight victory to take over sole possession of third place in the conference standings. The Raiders slipped into a fourth place tie with Kean (6-3, NJAC 3-2) and William Paterson (5-4, NJAC 3-2) entering the fall semester final examination break.
Rutgers-Newark hosts Hunter College at 1 p.m. on December 30 after the examination and holiday break.
