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NEWARK, N.J. (February 24, 2017) – The Rutgers University-Newark women's basketball team will look for the first New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) title in program history on Saturday when the Scarlet Raiders battle top-seeded Montclair State University in the Panzer Athletic Center.
 
Rutgers-Newark – winners of six of its last eight games and three-straight win-or-go-home contests – is already the first-ever No. 6 seed in the NJAC Tournament to reach the final, knocking off third-seeded Stockton University in the opening round and second-seeded Kean University in the semifinals.
 
Senior guard Maria Simmons and Shala Glenn each double-doubled to help lift the Raiders to a win over Kean on Wednesday, and sophomore guard Faith Ashby dropped 26 on just 19 shots in the team's upset of Stockton last Saturday.
 
Rutgers-Newark and Montclair State met twice in the regular-season with MSU winning both contests. R-N battled the nationally-ranked Red Hawks in both instances, but Montclair pulled away down the stretch in both games
 
December 3 – No. 14 Montclair State 62, Rutgers-Newark 49 – Newark, N.J.
 
January 21 – No. 17 Montclair State 69, Rutgers-Newark 56 – Montclair, N.J.
 
Montclair State has a balanced lineup that had all five starters averaging at least seven points and four rebounds. Veteran Katie Sire, who had a double-double of 23 points and 10 rebounds versus Rowan University in the conference semis, leads the team in scoring and rebounding at 16.5 points and 8.5 rebounds. Senior guard Rachael Krauss is next at 9.5 points which increased following her 25-point performance Wednesday against the Profs that included a single-game record eight three-point field goals. Zoe Curtis is at 9.0 points and five rebounds with Katie Tobie chipping in 8.3 points and 5.5 assists per contest.
 
Simmons – a first-team all-conference honoree – has led the Scarlet Raiders all season long and has been incredible of late, double-doubling in the semis and scoring 20-plus in both postseason wins. She leads the team in scoring (18.6), rebounding (7.6) and assists (5.7), sitting among the national leaders in assists and steals.
 
Honorable mention All-NJAC selection Faith Ashby has been splendid as well this season, leading the NJAC in steals while averaging 15.7 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. Glenn has come on strong as well, boasting averages of 7.4 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. The veteran has really upped her game down the stretch for Newark.
 
Additionally, junior forwards Nikki Sammartino and Nicole Skelly will be keys in Saturday's game, as will rookies Autumn Webster, Hannah Ashby and Louise Ann Borja.
 
Head Coach Ashley Cieplicki's Keys to the Game
-We need to find a way to get points in transition. Easy baskets will be key.
-Rebound. We cannot allow a team like Montclair extra chances to score the ball.
-We need to continue making big plays in big moments. We have been fortunate enough to hit some huge shots so far in this tournament, and that needs to continue Saturday.
-We have shown we can get to the line, we just need to make sure we convert when we do.
 
Tickets for the game are $5 for general admission and $2 for students, children and seniors. You can also catch the game on live video and/or live stats.