Box Score MAHWAH, N.J. – Senior forward
Jade Howard and junior guard
Arianna Williams scored 28 of their combined 41 points in the second half to rally Rutgers University-Newark to a 63-55 New Jersey Athletic Conference win over Ramapo College in the Bradley Center.
Howard posted her sixth double-double of the season with game highs of 22 points and 15 rebounds while Williams hit five of 11 shots from beyond the arc to finish with a career-high 19 points as the Scarlet Raiders (9-6, NJAC 5-3) handed the Roadrunners (4-10, NJAC 0-8) their fifth straight loss. Sophomore guard
Maria Simmons notched her second double-double of the season with a dozen points, 11 rebounds, a game-high five assists and three steals.
In a game that featured four ties and five lead changes, a jump shot by freshman guard Jina Crawford staked Ramapo to a 43-38 lead with 10:39 remaining before Howard and Williams had five points each during a decisive 11-0 spurt by Rutgers-Newark. Williams connected on a jumper and a trey during the run. Howard started the rally with a conventional 3-point play and capped it with a layup as the Raiders took a 49-43 lead with 6:24 left.
The Roadrunners twice cut their deficit to two points before Howard netted a pair of layups and senior center
Sharee Gordon hit a short jumper and a free throw to start an 8-1 rally. A free throw by Simmons put the Raiders in complete control at 59-51 with 1:11 left.
Rutgers-Newark missed its first 11 shots from the field in a first half which ended with the Roadrunners ahead 27-25. The Raiders overtook Ramapo at 16-15 on a trey by freshman forward
Nicole Skelly with 7:44 on the clock, but the hosts bounced back to lead at the break. A conventional 3-point play by sophomore forward Kellie Lane put the Roadrunners up 27-22 with 21 second remaining before Simmons knocked down a jumper from beyond the arc to slice the Rutgers-Newark deficit to two just before the horn.
Ramapo made nine of 11 free throws in the opening period, but the Raiders used a 27-20 edge on the boards and four 3-point field goals to offset a 10 for 38 (26.3%) shooting effort from the field. Howard took all three of Rutgers-Newark's free throws in the half – making one.
Howard connected on 10 of 22 shots from the floor and added a game-high four steals. Williams posted five rebounds and two assists for the Raiders. Gordon contributed five points, six rebounds, two blocked shots while Skelly added four rebounds and two assists to her three points.
Lane was the only Ramapo player in double figures with 15 points while senior guard Kerrie Kosakowski connected on nine of 11 free throws to finish with nine points and a team-high four assists. Freshman guard Dejha Flood and sophomore forward Bintou Berete netted seven points apiece.
The Raiders dominated the glass, 51-35, to offset 31.9% (23-72) shooting from the floor and a 10 for 18 night at the free throw line.
Rutgers-Newark hosts Rowan University in an NJAC doubleheader in The Golden Dome Arena on Saturday night. The women's game tips off at 6 with the men to follow at 8.
