NEWARK, N.J. (February 1, 2016) - The Rutgers University-Newark women's basketball team gave Stockton University all it could handle Monday night in a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) women's basketball game in The Golden Dome Arena, but the Ospreys used a late run to earn a 54-41 win over the Scarlet Raiders.

Rutgers-Newark falls to 6-14 overall and 2-11 in the conference with the loss, while Stockton moves to 17-3 overall and 11-2 in the NJAC. The Ospreys have now won 15-straight games dating back December 5.

Rutgers-Newark was led by junior guard Maria Simmons who had 14 points, eight rebounds, six steals and six assists. Senior guard Arianna Williams tallied 11 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for a double-double, pocketing three steals and rejecting a trio of shots as well. Sophomore forward Nikki Sammartino picked up four points and six boards, while reserve forward Jocelyn Rodriguez had four points and six boards as well.

Sophomore forward Najha Treadwell had 18 points and 22 rebounds to lead Stockton, and sophomore forward Sasha Williams had 18 points, 10 rebounds and five blocked shots.

The first half saw the two defenses dictate the action as the teams connected on just 15-of-64 from the field and went 2-for-13 from deep. Stockton was able to take a 22-18 lead into the intermission, but the Scarlet Raiders hung tough, getting five points apiece in the opening period from Williams and Simmons. Williams added eight first-half rebounds, all three of her blocked shots and a pair of steals, with Simmons grabbing four boards and dishing out a pair of assists. Junior guard Shala Glenn had four points in the first half.

The Ospreys raced out of the gate in the second, going on top by nine (29-20), but the Scarlet Raiders were able to keep their composure. Back-to-back layups from Simmons trimmed the lead to five, and after an Osprey free throw, Simmons found Sammartino for a layup to make it a 30-26 game with 5:42 left in the third. A defensive stop and layup from Williams had the Raiders within two points, before an incredible coast-to-coast layup from Simmons after a steal tied things at 30.

A Simmons triple briefly gave Rutgers-Newark a lead at 33-32, and the two teams went into the fourth with Stockton holding a slim 36-35 edge.

The two sides traded buckets to start the fourth, and after a basket from sophomore guard Tia Taylor, R-N had a one-point lead at 39-38. From that point, Stockton clamped down on defense, keeping Rutgers-Newark off the board for the next 8:02 while scoring 14 of its own to open a 52-39 lead and seal the win.

R-N shot 24 percent (18-for-75) from the field, 13.6 percent (13-for-22) from three and 40 percent (2-for-5) at the line. The Scarlet Raiders had 13 steals and three blocked shots, dishing out assists on 50 percent of their made baskets.

Stockton finished plus-nine on the glass (53-44) and shot 37.3 percent (19-for-51) from the field, 1-for-11 (9.1 percent) from theree and 15-for-29 at the line.

Rutgers-Newark returns to the hardwood February 3 at Kean University in another NJAC contest.