Box Score GLASSBORO, N.J. - Rutgers University-Newark forward
Jade Howard posted game highs of 25 points and a dozen rebounds, but Rowan University surged to a 74-62 New Jersey Athletic Conference win in Esby Gym.
Howard tallied 16 points in the opening half as the Scarlet Raiders (12-12, NJAC 8-9) constructed a 33-31 edge. Sophomore guard
Shala Glenn hit a layup after a steal and feed from sophomore guard
Maria Simmons for a quick 35-31 Rutgers-Newark advantage to start the second period. But the Profs (17-7, NJAC 12-5), who had already locked up the third seed in the opening round of the upcoming NJAC Championship Tournament, used a 16-2 run over the seven minutes to take control.
Despite the loss, the Raiders gained an NJAC playoff berth when Richard Stockton (20-4, NJAC 16-1) downed Kean University (12-12, NJAC 7-10), 64-52, in Union this afternoon.
Junior guard Kaitlin Schullstrom tallied 10 of her team-high 15 points during the Profs' decisive run. A layup by Glenn with 8:46 left got the Raiders to within four points at 52-48 before Rowan pulled away to lead by as many as 14 points down the stretch.
Howard, who notched her seventh double-double of the season, added a team-high five steals while Glenn finished with six points and four rebounds. Senior center
Sharee Gordon came off the bench to hit six of seven shots from the floor on her way to a dozen points and six rebounds.
Sophomore center
Jasmine Lombard and Simmons contributed eight points apiece with Simmons adding a team-high five assists and four steals before fouling out of the game. Junior guard
Arianna Williams pulled down seven rebounds but netted just three points on a long-range jumper.
Sophomore guard Anyssa Sanchez and junior forward Summer Crilley netted 12 points each for Rowan while junior center Kate Matthews, senior guard Jade Bonder and sophomore guard Valerie Garofalo posted nine points apiece in the balanced Prof attack.
The Raiders lost despite shooting 47.3% (26-55) from the floor and hitting nine of 10 free throws. Twenty-eight Rutgers-Newark turnovers and a 22 for 27 performance at the free throw line by Rowan were decisive factors.
Howard and Gordon will be honored before the tip off against Ramapo College (4-20, NJAC 0-17) at 6 p.m. on Wednesday night on Senior Night. The Raider and Roadrunner men's regular-season ending battle will follow at 8.
