NEWARK, N.J. (November 20, 2018) – The Rutgers University-Newark women's basketball team pulled away late to win its New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) home opener against Ramapo College in The Golden Dome tonight, 65-53. The Scarlet Raiders improve to 3-1 (1-0 NJAC) while the Roadrunners suffer their first loss of the campaign and move to 4-1 (0-1 NJAC).

Rutgers-Newark was led by senior Faith Ashby who shared game-high honors with 19 points. She also chipped in with seven rebounds, four assists, and four steals. Rookie Dorian Capurso joined her in double-digit scoring with 15 points. Capurso made it a double-double with a team-best 10 boards and also had a game-high five steals. Juniors Hannah Ashby and Louise Ann Borja each contributed eight points.

The Scarlet Raiders defense was excellent, forcing Ramapo into 24 turnovers and holding the visitors to just 27.6% shooting from the field.

Rutgers-Newark returns to action on Wednesday November 28 when Kean comes to the Brick City for a 6 p.m. NJAC matchup.

After a slow start, the teams played an exciting and fast paced first quarter. Capurso started the scoring with a driving lay-up about two minutes in and from there the sides had four lead changes and two ties.

The Raiders jumped out to a 9-4 lead with baskets by four different players. Still, the Roadrunners rallied led by a pair of triples from Cherie Smedile and five points from Allie Wickersham.

A Hannah Ashby trifecta put R-N up 14-12 but Smedile responded immediately with a 3-pointer of her own as Ramapo ended the first with a slim 15-14 edge.
The second period was similarly tight and featured another six lead changes and four ties as the squads battled for control.

Trailing 24-23, junior Megan Mack drained a shot from beyond the arc off a Faith Ashby feed and Rutgers-Newark added to the lead with a pair of Ashby freebies.
Two Ramapo free throws sliced their deficit in half as the Raiders led 28-26 at the break.

R-N got off to a strong start in the second half, building its largest advantage of the night.

Capurso knocked down a pair of shots at the charity stripe before junior Comfort Akinbo scored on consecutive trips on the offensive end to make it 34-26 in favor of the hosts.

Smedile responded for the Roadrunners with another trey but junior Louise Ann Borja answered right back with a lay-in to make it a seven-point lead.

While the visitors were able to cut the lead down to 38-35, but Rutgers-Newark closed the quarter on a 10-4 surge to build its largest advantage of the contest at 48-39.  Capurso and Faith Ashby featured heavily, combining for nine of the 10 points including a Capurso put back at the buzzer.

Ramapo fought back in the fourth quarter and were back within one possession on multiple occasions. An Alie Wickersham free throw had her team trailing just 52-49 with 4:26 to play.

From there, the Scarlet Raiders took control going on an 11-0 run to close out the game. Borja began the surge with a free throw and capped it with a 3-pointer while Faith Ashby added a big triple and lay-in as the home side took a commanding 63-49 lead with 1:02 remaining.