Box Score

CAMDEN, N.J. – The College of New Jersey senior forward Jessica Goldbach (Edison, NJ/John P. Stevens) hit a layup with 17 seconds remaining in regulation and Rutgers University-Camden had a potential game-tying shot rim out in the last second as the Lions outlasted the Scarlet Raptors, 52-50, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference women's basketball game here Tuesday night.
 
TCNJ improves to 3-2 overall and 1-1 in the NJAC, while Rutgers-Camden falls to 1-4 and 0-2.
 
The Lions have won their last 22 games against the Scarlet Raptors since Rutgers-Camden's last win on Feb. 4, 2004. TCNJ leads the all-time series, 54-7.
 
In a game where the lead changed hands six times and was tied on six other occasions, the Lions built a 50-46 lead with 3:34 remaining  on a three-pointer by senior guard Kelly Coughlin (Trumbull, CT/Trumbull). The Scarlet Raptors, however, forged back to tie the game at 50-50 on a pair of layups by freshman forward Michelle Obasi (Camden, NJ/Camden Catholic), with the tying shot coming with 51 seconds left in the half.
 
TCNJ took the lead with 17 seconds left when Goldbach rebounded a teammate's missed shot and put it back in. The Raptors' final shot missed the mark as time expired on the rebound.
 
TCNJ broke to a 20-13 lead in the first half before the Scarlet Raptors ran off 10 straight points to take a 23-20 edge, their first lead since 9-8. After trading a couple of baskets, the Lions went ahead, 26-25, on a layup by junior guard Angelica Esposito (Lincroft, NJ/St. John Vianney).
 
The Lions held a 28-27 lead at halftime behind 11 points from Goldbach. The Scarlet Raptors' senior forward Tanjae Lewis (Magnolia, NJ/Sterling) had 12 points in the opening half, while adding seven rebounds.
 
The teams were never separated by more than four points in the second half.
 
Goldbach finished with a team-high 15 points for the Lions, while Esposito and Coughlin added 12 apiece. Senior guard Kylie O'Donnell (Magnolia, NJ/Sterling) had a game-high four assists for the Lions.
 
Lewis notched a double-double of 20 points and 13 rebounds for the Scarlet Raptors for her second double-double of the season. Obasi added 17 points and seven rebounds, while senior guard/forward Irene Grimanis (Brooklawn, NJ/Gloucester) had a game-high 16 rebounds, four shy of her career high.
 
TCNJ shot 36.2 percent from the floor (21-for-58), but was 47.1 percent from three-point range (8-for-17). Rutgers-Camden shot 35.9 percent from the floor (23-for-64), including 10 percent (1-for-10) from beyond the arc. The Scarlet Raptors controlled the boards, 54-29, but also made 20 turnovers to the Lions' 14.
 
Both teams return to NJAC action with 8 p.m. games on Dec. 3. TCNJ hosts Richard Stockton College, while Rutgers-Camden travels to Rowan University.