SALEM, Mass. (December 29, 2015) - Despite double-doubles from junior guard Maria Simmons and senior guard Arianna Williams, the Rutgers University-Newark women's basketball team suffered a 73-52 loss to Wheaton College (Mass.) in the opening game of the Salem State University Holiday Classic.

The Scarlet Raiders - who are now 4-7 on the 2015-16 season - will take on host Salem St. in the consolation game Wednesday at 1 p.m. Vassar College defeated the Vikings in the other opening round contest Tuesday.

Simmons scored 22 points, pulled down 12 rebounds, dished out four assists and tallied four steals, while Williams finished with 20 points, 13 boards, four steals, two blocked shots and an assist. Sophomore forward Nikki Sammartino - along with Simmons and Williams - played all 40 minutes, grabbing six rebounds and scoring three points.

The Scarlet Raiders struggled with their shot throughout the game, shooting 19-for-72 from the field (26.4 percent), 3-for-21 from long range (14.3 percent) and 11-for-17 (64.7 percent) at the line. Rutgers-Newark was outrebounded 53-47 in a game that featured 100 total caroms. R-N finished with 10 steals, six assists and just 11 turnovers, but was minus-11 in second-chance points (20-9) and minus-10 in bench points (13-3).

The Lyons shot 21-for-56 (37.5 percent) from the field, 8-for-26 (30.8 percent) from distance and 23-for-29 (79.3 percent) at the line, getting nine or more points from five different players.

After Wheaton jumped out to an early 10-2 lead, the Scarlet Raiders came back to tie the game at 12 with a 10-2 run that featured a pair of Williams three-pointers, settling on a small 14-12 deficit after one.

Wheaton ran off the first 10 points of the second quarter to take a 12-point margin early in the period and eventually extended to a 17-point lead, but Simmons scored the final five points of the half to get the Raiders back within a manageable 12 at intermission (35-23).

In the second half, Rutgers-Newark was able to fight within 10 points, but Wheaton quickly extended and the Scarlet Raiders could never recover in the loss.

Wheaton improves to 7-3 overall and will play Vassar for the tournament title Wednesday at 3 p.m. The Lyons have won 4-of-5 since starting the season 3-2.

The double-double was the third of the season for Simmons who now has scored 20-plus points in three-straight games. Williams has scored 20 or more points in four-straight contests and now has a team-high four double-doubles this season.