Box Score

GLASSBORO, N.J. (Jan. 27, 2016) – Graduate student Kate Schullstrom (Colts Neck, NJ/Colts Neck) scored a game-high 26 points, including 17 in the second half, to spark the New Jersey Athletic Conference-leading Rowan University women's basketball team over Rutgers University-Camden, 88-75, here Wednesday night.
 
Rowan, which received votes this week in both the D3hoops.com and USA Today Coaches' Top 25 Poll, improves to 17-2 overall and 11-1 in the NJAC, while Rutgers-Camden falls to 11-6 and 6-5.
 
The Profs have won five out of the last six games in the series and hold a 50-15 all-time lead.
 
Rowan scored the last seven points of the third quarter to break a 53-53 tie and take the lead for good, in a game which featured 10 lead changes and seven ties. The Profs built their lead to 72-63 with 3:29 remaining in the game before the Scarlet Raptors scored six straight points to narrow the gap to 72-69 with 2:29 left. Junior forward/center Caroline Santiago (Buena, NJ/Buena Regional) scored four of the points in that run and 11 points in the final quarter.
 
Moments later, Schullstrom drained a three-pointer to increase the gap to 75-69, and the Profs were able to close out the game, aided by 9-for-9 shooting from the foul line down the stretch.
 
The first half featured five ties and nine lead changes. Rutgers-Camden took its biggest lead early in the second quarter, 26-18. Rowan countered with a nine-point lead to regain the advantage at 27-26 before a jumper by sophomore forward/center Michelle Obasi (Camden, NJ/Camden Catholic) put the Scarlet Raptors back ahead. That triggered an 11-4 run by Rutgers-Camden to take a 37-31 halftime lead.
 
Rowan opened the second half with a 20-3 run to grab a 51-40 lead before Rutgers-Camden stormed back to tie the game at 53-53 on a layup and a foul shot by senior guard/forward Kamari Talley (Camden, NJ/Creative Arts). The Profs regained the lead for good on a layup by junior guard/forward Ashanti Bishop (South Plainfield, NJ/South Plainfield), sparking their seven-point run to end the third quarter.
 
In addition to Schullstrom's 26 points, the Profs received 15 from junior guard Anyssa Sanchez (Stratford, NJ/Sterling), while grad student Melissa Lake (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) netted 14 and junior guard Valerie Garafalo (Ventnor, NJ/Holy Spirit) added 13 points and dished off a game-high nine assists. Another grad student, Kate Matthews (Clark, NJ/Arthur L. Johnson) grabbed a game-high 18 rebounds.
 
Rutgers-Camden received 21 points and 12 rebounds from Talley, who notched her 12th double-double in 14 games this season. Santiago added her third double-double of the season with 11 rebounds and her Raptor career-tying 19 points. Freshman guard Gabby Greene (Howell, NJ/Howell) notched 13 points, four assists and three steals, while Obasi and sophomore guard Cara Racobaldo (Pennsauken, NJ/Camden Catholic) both added 11 points. Obasi also grabbed nine rebounds, while Racobaldo had six boards, five assists and two steals. The five assists gave her an even 100 for the season, making her only the third player in program history to notch two 100-assist seasons. She joined Karla Robinson (1990-91 and 1991-92) and Erin James (2002-03 and 2003-04) in that select group.
 
The Scarlet Raptors return to action Saturday when they host Kean University in a 1 p.m. NJAC game. The game also will serve as a fundraiser for the Go4theGoal Foundation.