NEWARK, N.J. (December 5, 2018) – The Rutgers University-Newark women's basketball team saw a huge night by rookie Elisha India Cross jumpstart the Scarlet Raiders as they held off visiting New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) opponent William Paterson University in The Golden Dome, 70-63. The Raiders improve to 5-3 (3-1 NJAC) while the Pioneers fall to 3-5 (1-3 NJAC).

Cross led R-N with 24 points on an incredibly efficient 8-for-10 shooting from the field including a perfect 4-of-4 from 3-point range. She also contributed a team-best six steals and pulled down five rebounds. Senior Faith Ashby joined her in double-figures with 14 points while adding a squad-high eight boards as well as four assists and three steals. Junior Hannah Ashby rounded out the double-digit scorers with 13 points, featuring four trifectas, and had a team-best five dimes to go with one block and one steal. Junior Comfort Akinbo had a strong all-around contest with seven points, six rebounds, a game-best five blocks, two assists, and two steals.  

The Scarlet Raiders continue their NJAC slate on Saturday when they head to NJCU for a 3 p.m. contest. 

Rutgers-Newark raced out to a huge lead behind a torrent of 3-pointers. Cross started things off with a trifecta from the right wing before adding a traditional three-point play to make it 6-2.

Next it was Hannah Ashby's turn, drifting out to the left wing on a fast break and draining a trey off a feed from junior Louise Ann Borja. Cross came right back with another 3-pointer while Ashby connected on the team's third straight shot from downtown to the delight of the Raiders' bench.

A pair of Faith Ashby free throws extended the dominant early run while Borja added a cutting lay-in and Ashby closed a fantastic 21-3 stretch to start the game with a steal and bucket in the paint.

Still, the Pioneers responded with an 8-2 spurt to close the quarter and cut their deficit to 23-11.

R-N started off hot in the second period as well as five more points from Cross and another two triples by Hannah Ashby saw the hosts lead expand to 36-16.

William Paterson would not back down, however, and the visitors rallied with a 14-1 surge that made it a 37-30 contest at halftime.

In the third quarter, the Scarlet Raiders regained control. Leading 40-34, the home team went on a game-defining 14-2 surge that opened up a 54-36 advantage. Four different players scored including a big 3-pointer from junior Megan Mack and four points each by Cross and Akinbo.

Another shot from beyond the arc by Mack made it 57-38 before a WPU bucket closed out the period with Newark ahead 57-40.

The Pioneers wasted no time making it a competitive game again as they scored the first 12 points of the fourth, cutting their deficit to 57-52 with 6:00 on the clock.

Following a timeout, the Raiders were able to regain the momentum and extend their lead back into double-figures.   
      
Cross struck first with a 3-pointer from the right wing before Faith Ashby put back her on miss in the paint to make it 62-52. Another Cross lay-in had the home lead up to 12 with 3:56 remaining.

Rutgers-Newark led by as many as 13 with 2:40 to go as the hosts managed to hold off another late WPU rally to take the 70-63 victory.