NEWARK, N.J. (November 19, 2016) – The Rutgers University-Newark women's basketball team was topped by host Hartwick College 62-58 Saturday night in the Mayor's Cup in Lambros Arena.
 
Rutgers-Newark falls to 0-2 overall, while Hartwick improves to 2-1. The Scarlet Raiders will battle SUNY Oneonta Sunday afternoon in their tournament finale at 3 p.m.
 
A battle throughout, the game featured nine ties and 14 lead changes, and the largest lead for either team was six points. 

"We are not happy with the loss, but I was pleased with the great effort and fight we showed tonight," said second-year Head Coach Ashley Cieplicki. "We need to improve in a couple key areas, but I am confident we will bounce back."
 
Hartwick took a four-point lead with 5:48 left in the fourth quarter thanks to an 8-0 run, but a three-pointer from sophomore Faith Ashby pulled Newark back within one, and a steal from senior Maria Simmons led to an Ashby layup on the other end to give the Scarlet Raiders a 54-53 edge with 5:16 on the clock.
 
A steal from freshman Autumn Webster and a fastbreak layup for Simmons with 2:15 showing put Rutgers-Newark back in front after the hosts had taken the lead, but four-straight points from HC coupled with several empty possessions for R-N allowed Hartwick to open a three-point margin (61-58) with 19 seconds left. The Scarlet Raiders were unable to score on their next possession, and eventually fell by the 62-58 final.
 
Simmons and Ashby each had 13 points for the Scarlet Raiders, with Simmons adding six rebounds, six assists and five steals to her impressive all-around line. Ashby added six boards, three helpers and two thefts to her line, as senior Shala Glenn and Webster each netted nine points. Glenn added five rebounds, and freshman Hannah Ashby picked up eight points and three rebounds.
 
Rutgers-Newark recorded 10 steals in the game, shooting 32.8 percent (22-for-67) from the field, 25 percent (8-for-32) from three and 6-for-7 at the line. The Scarlet Raiders grabbed 36 rebounds and assisted on 11 of their 22 made baskets. 
 
Hartwick shot 36.7 percent (18-for-49) from the field, 3-for-19 from long range and 23-for-38 at the line. The Hawks held a 47-36 margin on the glass and had 11 assists. Emily Stone and Jacqui Foreman led the Hawks with a combined 28 points.
 
The hosts jumped in front early, but an 8-0 run featuring three's from Hannah Ashby and Simmons gave the Scarlet Raiders a 15-11 edge late in the first. Hartwick came back and took a 21-19 edge, with another Simmons three-pointer giving the Raiders a one-point lead midway through the second and the two teams would eventually settle on a 28-27 score in favor of the Hawks at intermission.
 
A 16-12 third quarter put Rutgers-Newark in front to start the fourth. Glenn hit a jumper out of the gate and a three-pointer from Webster 40 seconds into the second half made it 32-28 Raiders. The Hawks knotted things at 35, but R-N responded with 8-of-10 to go up six (43-37) following a layup from Glenn, with Hartwick trimming three points off the Newark lead going into the fourth.
 
Each team had 10 second-chance points in the game, with the Scarlet Raider bench outscoring the Hartwick bench, 17-14. R-N held a 10-4 edge in fastbreak points, and Hartwick was plus-four in points in the paint. Rutgers-Newark was whistled for 26 fouls, while Hartwick was called for just 13, and the Hawks had an unheard of 38-7 advantage in free-throw attempts.
 
Following Sunday's game, Rutgers-Newark will return to its home state ahead of its New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) opener at New Jersey City University Tuesday night at 6 p.m.