NEWARK, NJ | The Scarlet Raiders women's basketball team ended their 11-game losing skid this evening when they hosted non-conference opponents, John Jay College. Rutgers University-Newark prevented a late comeback by the Bloodhounds to win 69-65. 

Rutgers University-Newark (2-12) was led by Hannah Ashby who scored 13 points and grabbed eight rebounds while Dorian Capurso also tallied 13 points while pulling down 10 rebounds. Elisha India Cross once again led the team in assists by dishing out five in tonight's contest. Comfort Akinbo was all over the court and added 10 points, five rebounds, two blocks, and two steals. 

John Jay College (6-8) had All'aha Albright pour in 22 points while Nyasha Howard added 18 points and 12 rebounds. Katie Healy fouled out late in the game and added 16 points and 11 rebounds. 

The Scarlet Raiders women's basketball got off to a hot start against the Bloodhounds, jumping out to a 12-4 lead within the first five minutes of the game which forced John Jay to call a timeout. Comfort Akinbo and Hannah Ashby used a combination of height and speed to get up the court and exploit the mismatch they had inside. 

Akinbo left her mark all over the first quarter as she imposed her will in the paint and shot 3-for-3, grabbed a pair of rebounds and drew two charges. Dorian Capurso got in on the action, hitting a triple with 33 seconds left in the opening stanza to give her team a staggering 22-7 lead.

The Bloodhounds settled into the game in the second quarter and were able to cut into the Scarlet Raiders' lead. However, just when the Bloodhounds started to gain momentum, Syncere Lambert assisted a Capurso layup then came down on the defensive end and blocked a shot out of bounds which brought the crowd to their feet. 

John Jay was able to get within eight points of the Scarlet Raiders but Samiyah Horton hit a three right before the buzzer to send her team into the locker with the momentum and a 10-point lead. 

Rutgers University-Newark was unable to replicate their first quarter hot spell as John Jay was in the driver's seat to start the third quarter. The Bloodhounds, led by All'aha Albright, took a 41-40 lead with 5:32 to go in the third. Ashby was able to regain the lead for the Scarlet Raiders with a six-foot floater from in the paint. She then followed that up with a trip to the charity stripe where she would hit one of two to put her team up 45-41. 

The Scarlet Raiders slowly gained strength in the third and by the time the buzzer went off, thanks to a Capurso last-second layup, Rutgers-Newark had a 50-42 lead. 

In the fourth quarter, the Scarlet Raiders continued to increase their lead and with 7:05 remaining in the game, led by 12. As the game dwindled down, points began to come at a premium as the defense solidified. John Jay activated the full-court press and began fouling to send the Scarlet Raiders to the free-throw line with hopes of getting the ball back. 

With 28.3 seconds left, the Scarlet Raiders found themselves holding a six-point, 67-61, lead. In the end, Rutgers-Newark would win the war of attrition at the free-throw line to end their 11-game losing streak. 

Up next for the Scarlet Raiders is an NJAC game against Stockton University on Wednesday, January 15 at 6 pm at the Golden Dome.