CAMDEN, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Despite outscoring Rutgers-Camden in the final quarter of play, 21-12, the New Jersey City University women's basketball team couldn't overcome a slow start as it dropped a New Jersey Athletic Conference contest, 79-46, on December 2 inside Rutgers-Camden's Athletics and Fitness Center.
 
The Scarlet Raptors improved to 4-3 (1-2 NJAC) after leading 18-6 at the end of the opening period and held a 42-16 halftime lead. The Gothic Knights fell to 0-7 (0-3 NJAC). RCU held a 45-16 advantage in bench points and scored 29 points off of NJCU's 23 turnovers. RCU shot almost 48 percent from the floor, while limiting the Gothic Knights to 25 percent shooting overall.
 
In defeat, junior guard Jesenia Montalvo (Hillside, NJ/Bayonne) scored a game-high 16 points as she shot 7-of-13 from the floor in 30 minutes on the court, with a pair of threes. Freshman center Kiara Wood (Asbury Park, NJ/Asbury Park) hauled in a career-high 12 rebounds despite playing only 23 minutes before fouling out, while freshman point guard Mya Neal (East Orange, NJ/Newark Tech) fell two rebounds short of a double-double with 10 points (6-8 FT), a career-high eight rebounds (six defensive), three assists and three steals in 25 minutes. Freshman guard Arielle Cortes (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) scored a season-high nine points (3-5 FG, 2-2 3FG) in 27 minutes.
 
A total of 13 Scarlet Raptors scored against NJCU with four reaching double digits. Junior guard Gabby Greene (Howell, N.J.) led the team with 14 points (5-9 FG, 4-8 3FG) in 20 minutes, while senior guard/forward Cara Racobaldo (Pennsauken, N.J.) chipped in 12 points (6-9 FG), six rebounds, and five assists in 19 minutes of work.
 
Despite only playing for 15 minutes against NJCU, sophomore forward Kirsten Flournoy (Sicklerville, N.J.) fell two rebounds short of a double-double performance with 11 points (5-8 FG) and eight rebounds. Shane Holmes (Mount Laurel, N.J.) also scored 11 points in 12 minutes.
 
OF NOTE:

• Series: 60th meeting. R-C leads, 36-24 (Won last 5).
• Jesenia Montalvo (Hillside, NJ/Bayonne) scored in double figures for the sixth time in seven games this season and the seventh in 15 career games over two seasons for NJCU.
• Kiara Wood (Asbury Park, NJ/Asbury Park) grabbed a career best 12 rebounds against Rutgers-Camden. Her previous rebounding high was seven on November 21 against Rutgers-Newark.
• Arielle Corte scored a career-high nine points. Her previous career best was two.
• Mya Neal (East Orange, NJ/Newark Tech) secured a career-high eight rebounds. Her previous best was six on November 29 against William Paterson.

 
UP NEXT?:
The Gothic Knights host Kean University on December 6 (6 p.m.). It will be the team's final home conference match of the 2017 portion of the season. Kean (3-3, 1-2 NJAC) leads all-time series, 52-12, and has won the last six meetings.
 
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