NEWARK, N.J. (January 12, 2019) – The Rutgers University-Newark women's basketball team suffered a tough loss in New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) play tonight in The Golden Dome to visiting Rowan University, 67-60. The Scarlet Raiders fall to 9-7 (6-3 NJAC) while the Profs improve to 9-7 (7-2 NJAC).

Rutgers-Newark featured a quartet of double-figure scorers led by rookie Elisha India Cross who scored 14 while shooting 5-for-10 from the field and 3-of-6 from beyond the arc. Senior Faith Ashby added 13 points, five rebounds, and three steals while junior Hannah Ashby contributed 11 points and a game-best five steals. Freshman Dorian Capurso rounded out the group with a double-double of 10 points and a game-high 11 boards to go with a team-best four assists and three steals.

The Raiders return to action on Wednesday at Ramapo with a 5:30 p.m. tip.

R-N had a strong start to the contest, turning an early 4-4 deadlock into a 16-6 lead. Four different players got in on the scoring during that stretch as Capurso started the surge while junior Comfort Akinbo capped it with jumper in the paint at the 58-second mark. A Rowan 3-pointer had Newark in front 16-9 heading into the second.

The Raiders carried that momentum into the second quarter, netting the first five points of the period a trifecta by Cross and jumper from Hannah Ashby while back-to-back lay-ups from Akinbo and Cross gave the hosts their biggest lead of the contest at 28-15.

The Profs barely made a dent in that deficit as R-N headed into the locker rooms with a comfortable 33-22 edge.

The third was a whirlwind battle as the visitors nearly fought all the way back with a 12-2 surge to start the quarter, cutting their deficit to just one.

Still, the Scarlet Raiders responded with the next 11 points to reopen a commanding 46-34 advantage behind five points from Faith Ashby and four freebies by junior Louise Ann Borja. The hosts would take a 46-36 edge into the final period.

In the last 10 minutes, Rowan was able to turn the game on its head and complete a stunning comeback. Trailing 52-43 with 6:57 to play before embarking on a 20-4 run over the next five plus minutes to claim a 63-56 lead.

The Raiders would pull back within 63-60 on free throws from Borja and Capurso but it would not be enough as the Profs iced the game at the charity stripe for the final 67-60 margin.