NEWARK, N.J. (January 11, 2017) – The College of New Jersey earned a 59-47 victory over Rutgers University-Newark Wednesday night in a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) women's basketball game in The Golden Dome.
 
The Scarlet Raiders drop to 3-5 in the league and 5-10 overall, while the Lions move to 4-4 in the NJAC and 7-7 overall. Rutgers-Newark will return to the hardwood Saturday afternoon at conference rival Rowan University. Tip-off is slated for 1 p.m. and fans unable to make the trip can visit www.rutgersnewarkathletics.com Saturday for links to follow all the action live from Glassboro.
 
Rutgers-Newark was led by 13 points and two rebounds from freshman guard/forward Autumn Webster and 12 points, six rebounds, four steals and four assists from senior guard Maria Simmons. Sophomore guard Faith Ashby had nine points, five steals and two boards, while junior forward Nicole Skelly had four points and four rebounds.
 
The visiting Lions raced out to an early lead, but the Scarlet Raiders were able to get within five points (15-10) after one thanks to a solid 10-2 rally to close the quarter. Ashby led the Raiders with four points and two thefts in 10 minutes as R-N committed just two turnovers in the first stanza.
 
R-N quickly trimmed the deficit to one point (19-18) early in the second, but the Lions responded to go back on top by five with six of the game's next eight points. Newark would chip away to close the first half down by just two points (25-23).
 
The Lions extended their lead to 10 points (35-25) 3:41 into the third quarter, and after back-to-back buckets from Simmons pulled the hosts within six, TCNJ went back on top by 11, eventually taking a 47-35 margin into the fourth and final quarter.
 
Despite R-N battling, the Lions were able to up their advantage to 14 (54-40) midway through the stanza, but a driving bucket from Ashby and two foul shots from Webster made it a 10-point game with 4:10 on the clock. Ashby fed Webster for a big three-pointer with a 3:10 left, pulling Rutgers-Newark within seven, but the Lions were able to score on their next possession to go back up nine.
 
Unfortunately for the Scarlet Raiders, that would be as close as they would get before falling by the 59-47 final.
 
R-N shot 29 percent from the field (18-for-62), 15 percent from deep and 8-for-13 at the line. TCNJ shot 40 percent from the floor, 25 percent from three and 16-for-18 at the stripe, holding a 53-24 margin on the glass. Newark won the turnover battle, forcing 26 by the Lions and committing just 12 of their own, also finishing the game with 12 fastbreak points and 22 points in the paint.
 
Forward/center Nikki Schott paced TCNJ with 17 points, 11 rebounds and two assists.