JERSEY CITY, N.J. (November 22, 2016) – Three players scored in double figures to lead the Rutgers University-Newark women's basketball team to a win in its New Jersey Athletic Conference opener Tuesday night as the Scarlet Raiders topped New Jersey City University, 69-61, at the John J. Moore Athletic Center in Jersey City.
 
Senior Maria Simmons, sophomore Faith Ashby and freshman Hannah Ashby all scored 14 or more points to help guide Rutgers-Newark to its first victory of the season (1-3 overall, 1-0 NJAC). NJCU drops to 2-2 overall and 0-1 in the league with the loss.
 
"Any time you can get a road win in the NJAC it's a great win," said Scarlet Raider Head Coach Ashley Cieplicki. "It was a hard-fought battle, but we were able to put together a solid 40 minutes to do what we had to. Our newcomers are really starting to step up which is great to see."
 
Simmons poured in her 19 points on just eight shots, adding six assists and five rebounds to her line. She went 2-for-2 from three and hit 7-of-12 free throws. Faith Ashby had 15 points, six assists, four boards, one block and one steal, while Hannah Ashby had 14 points thanks in large part to four three-pointers. Junior forward Nikki Sammartino had six points and seven rebounds, and junior forward Nicole Skelly had six points and eight boards.
 
Rutgers-Newark took a seven-point lead into fourth quarter, but NJCU came back to get within one at 60-59 with 4:05 left. A Simmons layup with 3:00 on the clock pushed the Scarlet Raider lead back to three, and after Simmons went 2-for-4 at the line on the next two Newark positions, Faith Ashby upped the guests advantage to seven (66-59) with 1:04 left. The Gothic Knights would get within five, but senior Shala Glenn and Simmons combined to go 3-for-4 at the line down the stretch to ice the win.
 
The Scarlet Raiders finished the game shooting 35.6 percent from the field (21-for-59), an excellent 8-for-16 (50 percent) from three and 19-for-29 at the line (65.5 percent). They grabbed 40 rebounds (11 offensive), tallied eight steals, three blocks and assisted on 12-of-21 made baskets.
 
NJCU shot 38.5 percent from the floor, 33.3 percent from deep and 7-for-11 at the line, committing 21 turnovers and handing out 14 assists. The Gothic Knights had three players in double figures and were led by Tu'ziah Hall's 15 points, five assists and four rebounds.
 
Ashby opened the game with a three-pointer, with a Simmons triple pushing the Newark edge to six (14-8) midway through the first quarter. NJCU battled back to take a 16-14 lead, but a 7-0 run for Rutgers-Newark to end the quarter gave the guests a 21-16 margin heading to the second.
 
NJCU would come back in the second, but a three-pointer from freshman Louise Ann Borja with 1:35 left in the first half helped the Scarlet Raiders reclaim a four-point lead as they eventually took a 30-28 margin at the half.
 
The Gothic Knights came out strong in the second, quickly turning the tables and taking a five-point lead (37-32) before a Hannah Ashby three-pointer slowed the momentum.
 
NJCU would answer, extending its lead to eight at 44-36 with 4:35 to play in the third, but Rutgers-Newark erupted on a big-time 18-3 run to close the quarter. Sammartino and Simmons hit four-straight free throws and another Hannah Ashby three pulled Newark within one (46-45). Moments later, a Simmons three gave the Scarlet Raiders the lead for good, and a Simmons jumper as time expired made it 54-47 Rutgers heading to the fourth.
 
Rutgers-Newark doubled up NJCU 22-11 in points off turnovers, and outscored the Gothic Knights 13-6 in second-chance points. The Scarlet Raiders also held a 20-12 margin in bench points.
 
R-N will look to make it two-straight wins in the conference when it visits Kean University for an NJAC clash November 30.