NEWARK, N.J. (December 5, 2016) – The Rutgers University-Newark women's basketball team fell by a score of 70-57 Monday night in a non-conference game against Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham in The Golden Dome.
 
The Scarlet Raiders drop to 1-6 overall, while the Devils improve to 4-2. Rutgers-Newark returns to the hardwood with a key New Jersey Athletic Conference matchup against Ramapo College Wednesday night at 6 p.m. in Newark. The Raiders will be looking to even their conference ledger at 2-2, and Rutgers-Newark will also be celebrating 'Holiday Night' in The Golden Dome as fans are encouraged to wear their best ugly holiday sweater to the game for a chance to win a halftime contest.
 
Rutgers-Newark came out of the gate strong in the first quarter, taking a 21-19 lead after 10 minutes and getting key contributions from sophomore guard Faith Ashby (nine points) and senior guard Maria Simmons (six points, three assists). The Raiders shot 53.3 percent from the field and 4-for-7 from three in the stanza.
 
FDU played well offensively in the second, taking the lead back early in the period. The Raiders were able to tie it 24-24 with 7:00 remaining in the quarter, but the Devils went on a 14-7 run to close the half with a 38-31 lead.
 
The Devils quickly extended their advantage to 11 just 14 seconds into the third quarter, but Rutgers-Newark responded  with a jumper from senior guard Shala Glenn and a three-pointer from freshman Autumn Webster to slice the FDU margin to six. The Devils would answer late in the third, and they were able to bring a 12-point lead into the game's final 10 minutes.
 
R-N's defense was the story  in the fourth, keeping the Devils off the scoreboard for the first 6:03 of the quarter. However, despite trimming the lead to eight after a Simmons layup with 4:07 left, the Scarlet Raiders could not get the buckets they needed to complete a comeback.
 
The Scarlet Raiders shot 36.2 percent from the field, 34.5 percent (10-for-29) from long range and 5-for-13 at the line. They totaled 32 rebounds, 13 assists and six steals, scoring 12 second-chance points and 16 points in the paint.
 
Simmons led the way with 15 points, seven assists and six rebounds, while Faith Ashby had 12 points, six boards, five assists and two steals in a strong all-around performance. Webster had nine points and two rebounds, and freshman Hannah Ashby finished with 10 points and four boards off the bench. Freshman Louise Ann Borja had six points and three rebounds, and Glenn finished with four points, four rebounds and a pair of steals.
 
FDU was led by double-doubles from Alyssa McDonough (21 points, 16 rebounds) and Rachel Groom (17 points, 10 rebounds) and 21 points from Kendrea Williams. The Devils shot 47.4 percent from the floor, 21.4 percent from three and 56.5 percent at the line, holding a 46-31 margin on the glass and assisting on 15 of their 27 made baskets.