NEWARK, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Rutgers University-Newark used a 15-0 run over a span of just over six minutes to turn a narrow 29-27 margin into a 17-point differential as the Scarlet Raiders defeated New Jersey City University, 52-38, in New Jersey Athletic Conference women's basketball action on January 21 at The Golden Dome.
 
Rutgers-Newark (10-7, 6-4 NJAC) posted its 10th consecutive win over NJCU (7-10, 1-9 NJAC) by limiting the Gothic Knights to 19.4 percent shooting from the field (14-72) as the guests could never find their shooting touch. RUN shot 44.8 percent in the second half (13-29) and .396 for the game (21-53).
 
Just a two-point game at the half (20-18) after six ties in the opening 20 minutes, it appeared the game would be tight all night when junior forward Deseree Johnson (Red Bank, NJ/Monmouth Regional) hit a three with 13:38 to play to make it a 29-27 deficit.
 But the game changed over the next 6:05 as the Raiders, behind another dominant effort from two-time NJAC Player of the Week and league leading scorer Jade Howard (Sicklerville, NJ/St. Joseph's (Hammonton)) who scored nine of her game-high 23 points during the 15-0 outburst that gave RUN a decisive 44-27 advantage with 8:14 to play before the Knights finally scored again with 7:32 to go. NJCU could not draw closer than 13 the rest of the contest.
 
Howard was 9-of-17 from the field and finished with 23 points and seven rebounds in 38 minutes, including a pair of fast break baskets at 12:27 and 11:10 that pushed the lead to eight (35-27) before capping the run with another fast break bucket.
 
In defeat for NJCU, Johnson had 11 rebounds (seven defensive), seven points and three steals while MBWA Player of the Week and sophomore power forward Bria Smith (Bayonne, NJ/St. Dominic Academy) just missed another double-double with nine points and 10 rebounds. Junior guard Kiana Briggs (Paterson, NJ/Passaic County Tech) tallied nine points, seven rebounds and five assists.
 
Senior center Sharee Gordon (Newark, NJ/University) finished with a double-double of 12 rebounds (10 defensive), 10 points (4-6 FG), three assists and three blocks and sophomore guard Maria Simmons (Irvington, NJ/Irvington) chipped in 10 point, nine rebounds (six offensive) and six assists for the Raiders.
 
OF NOTE:

• Series:  67^th meeting. Rutgers-Newark leads the all-time series, 46-21 and has won the last 10 meetings.
• The 19.4 percent field goal percentage was NJCU's lowest of the season. The previous low was .263 against Farmingdale State on January 2 (20-76). The last time NJCU had a lower field goal percentage was February 14, 2011 vs. Montclair State when the Knights shot .180 (11-61).
• Bria Smith hauled in double digits in rebounding for the 27th time as a collegian and 13th time this season.

WHAT'S NEXT?
On Saturday, January 24, NJCU will seek a season split against Kean University at 3 p.m. at Harwood Arena in Union. Kean won the first meeting on November 22 in Jersey City, 79-71. Bria Smith had a huge double-double in the loss, matching her career high with 29 points on 10-of-20 shooting and seized 13 rebounds. NJCU fell behind big in the first half but rallied within one point with 10 minutes left.
 
Series:  60th meeting. Kean leads the all-time series, 47-12. NJCU had won three of the last four meetings