CAMDEN, NJ | The Rutgers University-Newark women's basketball program traveled south this afternoon to take on New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) opponents, Rutgers University-Camden. Despite a late push, the Scarlet Raiders were unable to overcome their deficit as they fell 63-57 to the Scarlet Raptors. 

Rutgers University-Newark (1-12, 0-7) suffered their 11th straight game this afternoon with the loss to the Scarlet Raptors. Dorian Capurso led the team with an 11 point, 14 rebound double-double while Brielle Mattiello added 9 points and led the team with three assists. Hannah Ashby hit a pair of triples which led the team.

Rutgers University-Camden (8-5, 2-5) was led by Fatimah Williams who scored a game-high 25 points while finishing second on the team with six rebounds. Shane Holmes led the team with seven rebounds and five assists but also added 10 points. 

The Scarlet Raiders found themselves in a hole to start the game as their offense struggled to find the bottom of the hoop. They did, however, improve in each quarter as the game went on, capped off by a 24-point total in the fourth quarter. 

At the start of the second quarter, Ashby cut the lead down to seven when she hit the front end of a pair of free throws after Louise Ann Borja hit from behind the arc. A two-minute scoreless spell by Rutgers-Newark allowed Rutgers-Camden to push their lead back out to double digits (14). The Scarlet Raiders were unable to cut the deficit down to single digits before the half but showed promising play right before heading into the locker room. 

Elisha India Cross cashed in from three-point range to start her team on a 4-0 run to start the third stanza. The Scarlet Raptors responded with a 6-0 run which pushed their lead out to 16.

The Scarlet Raiders were able to rally in the fourth quarter and with three minutes remaining in the game, a layup by Mattiello cut the deficit down to just six.  The Scarlet Raptors then used four straight free throws to give themselves a 10-point lead with 2:20 left in the game. Rutgers University-Newark tried to complete the comeback, however, the Scarlet Raptors hit their attempts from the charity stripe to seal the game in their favor. 

Up next for the Scarlet Raiders is a non-conference bout against John Jay College on Monday, January 13 at the Golden Dome.