ONEONTA, N.Y. (November 20, 2016) – SUNY Oneonta topped the Rutgers University-Newark women's basketball team by a score of 52-42 Sunday afternoon in Lambros Arena on the campus of Hartwick College.
 
The Scarlet Raiders fall to 0-3 on the young season, while Oneonta improves to 3-0. Rutgers-Newark will return to the hardwood Tuesday night when the ladies visit New Jersey Athletic Conference rival New Jersey City University in the league opener for both schools. Tip-off is slated for 6 p.m. from Jersey City.
 
Sophomore Faith Ashby (14) and freshman Autumn Webster (11) each scored in double figures for Rutgers-Newark who shot 34 percent (18-for-53) from the field, 37.5 percent (6-for-16) from three and 0-for-1 at the line. The Scarlet Raiders grabbed 31 rebounds, assisted on 11-of-18 made baskets and recorded six steals as a team.
 
Ashby had 14 points, five rebounds and three steals, while senior guard Maria Simmons had five points, nine assists and five rebounds. Junior forward Nikki Sammartino had four points and 10 boards, and Rutgers-Newark outscored the Red Dragons 22-8 in the paint.
 
Oneonta shot 15-for-48 (31.3 percent) from the field, 8-for-26 (30.8 percent) from deep and 14-for-21 (66.7 percent) at the line, and the Red Dragons held a 41-31 margin on the glass. Cara Adams led Oneonta with 17 points.
 
Rutgers-Newark raced out to an early 7-0 lead, getting four points from Ashby and a three-pointer from Simmons, and after Oneonta cut into the lead, a triple from junior Nicole Skelly made it 12-5 Newark with a shade under two minutes in the first quarter.
 
Freshman Hannah Ashby buried a three to start the second-quarter scoring, giving Rutgers-Newark a 17-10 margin, but Oneonta closed the half on a 9-0 run to take a 24-21 lead into the break.
 
Adams hit a three-pointer early in the third to give her team its largest lead of the night at 27-21, and the Red Dragons clamped down on defense to take a 41-23 advantage into the fourth and final quarter.
 
The Scarlet Raiders did a nice job fighting back, ripping off seven-straight points punctuated by a Webster three to get within 11 (41-30) with 8:23 to play. Another Webster three and Faith Ashby bucket after a Red Dragon make pulled Rutgers within eight (43-35) midway through the final stanza, but that would be as close as the Raiders would be able to get down the stretch.

Rutgers-Newark women's basketball fans should check www.rutgersnewarkathletics.com for links to follow the Raiders against NJCU Tuesday. Fans should also follow @ScarletRaiders and @RN_WBB on twitter and Instagram for every Scarlet Raider women's hoops.