Jersey City, NJ – Despite a valiant effort, the Rutgers-Newark women's basketball team was unable to overcome the constant scoring by New Jersey City University, falling 62-50 a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) contest at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center on Wednesday night.

The Scarlet Raiders (3-16, 0-12 NJAC) were led by Tracey Ilderis, who finished with 10 points and 14 rebounds, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Gothic Knights (8-11, 7-5 NJAC), who capitalized on timely shooting and a strong defensive performance in the second half.

NJCU held a 28-17 lead at halftime, showing flashes of offensive fluidity and aggressive defense in the first two quarters. However, Rutgers-Newark came out of the break with renewed intensity, tightening their defense and making crucial adjustments to hold the Gothic Knights to 10 points in the third quarter. NJCU had key contributions from Autumn John, who scored 14 points and grabbed seven rebounds.

The Scarlet Raiders struggled to find an increase in offensive output in the third quarter. In the fourth, the Raiders came alive forcing turnovers and trying to shrink the scoring gap. Despite a late push by Rutgers-Newark, the Gothic Knights kept control, converting on key possessions in the final minutes to seal the victory.

Rutgers-Newark's defense was unable to contain NJCU's second-half scoring. The Scarlet Raiders had seven different players score tonight proving that they were able to pass the ball, but the offense was not enough to come away with the victory today.

The loss leaves Rutgers-Newark searching for answers as it prepares for the next matchup. The Scarlet Raiders need to regroup quickly as they face Stockton University on Saturday, Feb. 1. As for NJCU, the win improves their NJAC standing, boosting their chances of a top spot in the league standings.