2015-16 Preview Video | 2015-16 Schedule | 2015-16 Roster
 
NEWARK, N.J. (November 11, 2015) – The Rutgers University-Newark women's basketball team will usher in a new era Saturday when first-year Head Coach Ashley Cieplicki and the Scarlet Raiders host the John K. Adams Tip-Off Classic in The Golden Dome Arena.
 
Rutgers-Newark will square off with John Jay College Saturday at 2 p.m. and St. John Fisher College Sunday at the same time.
 
Leading the Scarlet Raiders throughout the 2015-16 season will be a pair of captains in junior Maria Simmons and senior Arianna Williams.
 
Simmons was third on the team in scoring, averaging 9.6 points per game, tallying 5.5 rebounds and handing out 5.0 assists. She started 29-of-29 outings, leading the conference in assists and steals – averaging 3.8 thefts per game. The team's No. 1 ball handler, Simmons will need to do all the little things, including taking on a larger scoring and rebounding burden in order for R-N to experience success.
 
Williams played in and started all 29 games for the Scarlet Raiders, draining a team-high 58 three-pointers. She averaged 9.1 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, dishing out 79 assists and tallying 55 steals. An excellent shooter, Williams will need to continue to convert from distance, also finding ways to get to the line and take an increased role across the board.
 
"Both are leaders on and off the court and both will be huge keys to our success this season," said Cieplicki. "They need to help keep the group together, lead on both ends of the court and set the tone from the opening tip Saturday afternoon."
 
Four other seniors will be working for minutes this season in forward Samantha Chirichello, guard Sarah Schwartz, forward Margaret Kolta and guard Pia Malcampo.
 
Chirichello has shown incredible toughness in the post, going hard all the time. A strong rebounder with a nose for the ball, Chirichello has demonstrated a knack for getting to the line and a desire to do the dirty work. Someone who will earn minutes down low, the Wanaque native should see increases across the board after playing in five games last year.
 
Schwartz has been a member of the Scarlet Raiders for the last three seasons, steadily improving and working incredibly hard. The Roselle, N.J. native is willing to do whatever it takes to help the team and will provide depth in the Scarlet Raider back court after seeing action in eight games as a junior.
 
Kolta returns to the roster for the first time since 2012-13, always bringing a good attitude and 100 percent effort to practice. A hard worker, Kolta will give the coaching staff another option down low.
 
Malcampo is in her second year as a member of the R-N women's basketball program, playing previously in 2013-14. One of the hardest workers on the roster and a great team player, Malcampo is getting better and better with each practice.
 
Guard Shala Glenn is the lone junior on the team and she should see a big role from the outset after averaging nearly 30 minutes per game as a sophomore. The Piscataway native shot 41 percent from the field, averaging 5.3 points and 3.7 rebounds per game, also handing out 59 assists in total. Glenn – who has excellent speed and a nice ability to get to the hoop – hopes to see increases to her numbers and will be relied on to pick up some of the scoring slack lost to graduation.
 
Sophomore guard Nicole Skelly played the second half of the season for the Scarlet Raiders in 2014-15, earning time in 15 games and playing more than 20 minutes per contest. A shooter that understands the game, Skelly is another player that will be looking to make a leap this season, taking on a larger role that will at times include running the offense.
 
Sophomore forward Nikki Sammartino is on the Scarlet Raider roster this season after playing only softball as a freshman. A 1,000-point scorer in high school, Sammartino will see minutes in the post and could end up being a major asset for R-N. A player with solid height and athleticism, the North Arlington native is a great addition to the program.
 
Sophomore guard Tia Taylor is back after seeing limited minutes as a freshman. A versatile player that can play some point guard, Taylor can shoot, score and get to the basket.
 
A trio of freshmen will be fighting for minutes as well, in guard Chelsea Scott, forward Jocelyn Rodriguez and guard Tasha Kellam. Scott is one of the top defenders on the roster and has a great attitude, while Rodriguez is a quality shooter that understands the game. Kellam – a Newark native – will add depth at the guard position as she eyes a rotation spot as the season progresses.
 
After the John K. Adams Tip-Off Classic this weekend, the Scarlet Raiders will visit Connecticut College before getting into NJAC play in 'The Dome' on November 24.
 
R-N was picked to finish seventh in the conference based on a poll of the league's 10 head coaches a season after reaching the NJAC semis and ECAC Metro Championship final.
 
NJAC Preseason Poll
 
In order to get back to the postseason, Rutgers-Newark will need to do the little things.
 
"We need to consistently out-work other teams," said Cieplicki. "We need to be scrappy, we need to box out and we need to be known for our defense. If we can handle adversity and fight for 40 minutes every time out, I think we can do some good things this year."
 
R-N will play five conference games before the winter break and will head to the Salem State Holiday Classic in Massachusetts to end December. The Raiders return to conference play with a home game against Rutgers University-Camden on January 6, with the regular-season wrapping up on February 17. February 13 will be Senior Night at The Golden Dome Arena.