Box Score NEWARK, N.J. – Connecticut College used the free throw line to rally past Rutgers University-Newark in the second half for a 65-59 non-conference battle in The Golden Dome Arena.
The Scarlet Raiders got 14 points, six rebounds and three assists from junior guard
Arianna Williams who lead a balanced Rutgers-Newark offense, but the Camels (9-2) dropped in 25 of 31 free throws to spell the difference.
After a 3-point jumper by Williams gave the Raiders their biggest lead of the game at 43-32 with 12:53 left, the visitors mounted an 18-6 run to take yheir first lead of the game with 7:56 on the clock on a 3-point jumper by junior guard Willa McKinley. McKinley notched seven points during the spurt with sophomore guard Liz Malman contributing six on three field goals as the Camels edged ahead, 50-49.
Williams gunned in her third trey of the game to put the Raiders ahead again and set up a see-saw of three lead changes and two ties over the next six minutes. After McKinley drained a 3-pointer with 3:53 left to give Connecticut College a 58-54 lead, Williams put in her final shot from beyond the arc and sophomore center
Jasmine Lombard followed with a baseline jumper to give Rutgers-Newark its last lead at 59-58 with 2:02 remaining.
Junior center Jenna Lovett knocked down a jump shot from the middle of the lane with 1:43 left to give the Camels the lead before Lombard was whistled for charging with 1:02 on the clock. McKinley sank three of four free throws and Malman added two more in the final 48 seconds as the Camels moved away from danger.
Rutgers-Newark piled up a season-high tying 26 personal fouls with sophomore guard
Maria Simmons and senior center
Sharee Gordon fouling out in the second half. Senior forward
Jade Howard and sophomore guard
Shala Glenn were whistled four times each as the Raiders' starting five accumulated 21 personals while the Camels totaled just 12 fouls.
Lombard came off the bench to hit five of nine shots from the floor on her way to 11 points, seven rebounds and three assists – but she accounted for all but two of the Raiders' points from reserves where Connecticut College held a 25-13 edge.
Simmons finished with a dozen points, three assists and three rebounds while Howard, who hauled down a game-high eight rebounds, and Glenn added eight points apiece. Howard and Glenn each notched two steals.
Howard, who entered the game with a 20.5 scoring average, was held to less than 10 points for just the second time this season.
McKinley, who made five of six free throws, gunned in a game-high 20 points while Malman and freshman forward Mairead Hynes chipped in 14 points each for the Camels. Malman, who sank six of seven free throws, added a game-high four steals and a pair of assists.
The Raiders got to the free throw line just seven times – making four – as Connecticut College forged a 21-point difference at the charity stripe.
Rutgers-Newark (7-5, NJAC 3-2) visits Rutgers University-Camden on Wednesday for a doubleheader to resume its New Jersey Athletic Conference schedule. The Raider men square off against the Scarlet Raptors at 6 p.m. with the women's contest tipping off at 8.
