BOX SCORE
NEWARK, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Rutgers-Newark used a 15-2 run midway through the first half to break open a close game as the Scarlet Raiders defeated New Jersey City University in a New Jersey Athletic Conference women's basketball game on Wednesday night at The Golden Dome.
Rutgers-Newark improved to 15-6 overall and evened its NJAC record at 5-5. NJCU fell to 4-16 (0-9 NJAC). Newark leads the all-time series, 38-21.
Newark shot 63.0 percent in the first half (17-27) and converted 7-of-12 three-point shots in the period (58.3 percent) as the Scarlet Raiders built a 42-27 margin at the intermission. NJCU did shoot well in the first half (.407, 11-27) but could not match the ball movement of the Raiders, who achieved an assist on 13 of 17 made baskets in the opening 20 minutes.
Senior forward Jaleesa Coleman (Pleasantville, NJ/Pleasantville) scored 17 of her game-high 23 points in the first half, finishing shooting 10-of-19 overall and 3-of-6 from three-point distance with seven rebounds.
Three players reached double figures in scoring for NJCU. Senior guard CAROLINA GARCIA (Plainfield, NJ/Franklin) collected 11 points and made 3-of-6 three-point shots to increase her 10th place career scoring total to 868. Sophomore guard GABRIELLE RIVERA (Teaneck, NJ/Saint Joseph of the Palisades) also finished with 11 points while sophomore point guard NIDIA CARMONA (Elizabeth, NJ/Elizabeth) chipped in 10 points (4-9 FG), three assists and two steals.
Freshman center OLIVIA OBANYE (Jersey City, NJ/County Prep) did not play in the first half when NJCU had a combined 12 team rebounds. She came off the bench early in the second half and in 17 minutes provided a big lift defensively, grabbing a career-best and game-high 11 rebounds. Freshman forward MARIA SUAREZ (Cliffside Park, NJ/Cliffside Park), the reigning NJAC Rookie of the Week, finished with eight points and four rebounds in 17 minutes.
Also for the Raiders, freshman guard ShaQuanna Marshall (Paterson, NJ/Paterson Catholic)tallied 11 points (4-9 FG) and four assists while junior guard Brittany Smith (Salem, NJ/Salem) chipped in 11 points (3-6 FG, 2-4 3FG). Freshman guard Mercedes Glover (Burlington, NJ/Burlington Township) added eight points, including a pair of threes.
In the first half, layups by Suarez and Carmona gave NJCU a 15-11 lead at 12:49 before a 15-2 run by the Raiders allowed the hosts to claim a double-digit, 27-17 lead. The Raiders hit three three-pointers during the spurt. A Coleman three cut it to 15-14 before freshman guard Courtney Woodard (Plainfield, NJ/Plainfield) scored to put Newark in front to stay. A jumper by Rivera shaved the R-N lead to 18-17. But the Raiders scored the next nine points, including threes by Coleman and Glover.
Coleman's 15th point of the game, a triple from the left corner as the shot clock expired, extended the lead to 34-21 (4:32) and Smith connected on a pair of threes in the final 2:10 of the period, to give the Raiders a 43-25, 18-point margin—their largest of the game.
Newark led by 16 at halftime (43-27). The Knights showed life midway through the second half, trimming the deficit to eight, 53-45, when Suarez sank a pair of free throws with 7:17 to go, before the hosts scored the next six points—four by Coleman—to push the lead back to double figures, eventually prevailing by 16.
NJCU returns to the court on Monday, February 7 at 6 p.m. with a home non-consecutive game against Berkeley College at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center in Jersey City, NJ.
—www.njcugothicknights.com—
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Team Stat Comparison
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NJCU
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NEWARK
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Score
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50
|
66
|
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Half-Time Score
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27
|
43
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Field Goal Percentage
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.333 (20-60)
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.446 (25-56)
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Three-Point Percentage
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.263 (5-19)
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.444 (8-18)
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Free Throw Percentage
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.714 (5-7)
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.667 (8-12)
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Rebounds (O-D-T)
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14-22-36
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12-25-37
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Assists
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12
|
18
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Turnovers
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21
|
20
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Blocks
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1
|
2
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Steals
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9
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12
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Fouls
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12
|
11
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Largest Lead
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4
|
18
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Points in the Paint
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20
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26
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Points off Turnovers
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16
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24
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Second Change Points
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10
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9
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Fast Break Points
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13
|
17
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Bench Points
|
16
|
14
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