Box Score GALLOWAY, N.J. (Feb. 20, 2016) – It took 13 years for the Rutgers University-Camden women's basketball team to return to the New Jersey Athletic Conference playoffs after winning the title in 2003, and the sixth-seeded Scarlet Raptors battled down to the wire here Saturday in the effort to extend their tournament run.
With 2:26 remaining, however, third-seeded Stockton University broke the game's seventh tie on a jumper in the paint by sophomore forward
Najha Treadwell (Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) and the Ospreys held on to eliminate the Scarlet Raptors, 61-54, in a first-round game.
Stockton, 21-5, advances to the NJAC semifinals at 7 p.m. Tuesday at top-seeded Rowan University. Rutgers-Camden, meanwhile, falls to 15-10 and will wait to see if it gets selected for an ECAC Division III Metro playoff berth when that field is announced Feb. 29.
NJAC Playoff bracket With their 10-3 run to close out the game, the Ospreys spoiled a stellar comeback by the Scarlet Raptors, who trailed by as many as 10 points late in the third quarter (45-35) and were behind, 45-37, entering the final period. Rutgers-Camden, however, rattled off 10 consecutive points to open the fourth quarter, grabbing a 47-45 advantage with 7:51 remaining in the game on a layup and foul shot by sophomore guard/forward
Cara Racobaldo (Pennsauken, NJ/Camden Catholic). Three lead changes later, with Stockton holding a 51-49 advantage, the Raptors tied the game on a layup by senior guard/forward
Kamari Talley (Camden, NJ/Creative Arts). After five missed shots and a 1:34 scoreless run by the two teams, Treadwell's short jumper gave Stockton the lead for good. The home team stretched its advantage to 55-51 with 1:38 remaining, but Scarlet Raptors freshman guard
Gabby Greene (Howell, NJ/Howell) drained her fourth three-pointer of the game to make it a 55-54 contest with 1:22 remaining.
Moments later, Stockton sophomore forward
Sasha Williams (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) put the finishing touch on her amazing performance with a short jumper to give the Ospreys a 57-54 lead. The Scarlet Raptors missed four shots over the next 51 seconds, including a trio of three-point attempts that could have tied the game, before Stockton finally closed out its win by hitting four foul shots in the last 12 seconds.
Both teams had 10-point runs in the opening quarter, which ended with the Ospreys ahead, 16-15. After Stockton bolted to a 6-2 lead, Rutgers-Camden rattled off 10 straight points, including four by Talley. Stockton answered with a 10-point run of its own, with eight of them coming from Williams. The Scarlet Raptors ended that streak, and the first-quarter scoring, with a three-pointer by Greene.
The Ospreys outscored the Scarlet Raptors, 12-6, in the second quarter to grab a 28-21 halftime lead. Williams had a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds at the break, while adding six blocked shots. For the Scarlet Raptors, Greene notched eight first-half points.
Williams finished with 22 points, 17 rebounds and eight blocked shots, coming within two blocks of a triple-double for the Ospreys. Sophomore guard
Lea Mendolla (Nutley, NJ/Mount St. Dominic) added 13 points for Stockton.
Talley collected 19 points and 13 rebounds for the Scarlet Raptors, notching her 20th double-double in 22 games this season. Greene finished with 16 points and four assists, while adding four assists. Junior forward/center
Caroline Santiago (Buena, NJ/Buena Regional) collected 10 rebounds and six points, while Racobaldo had a game-high five assists to go along with her seven points, five boards and two steals.
Stockton shot 19-for-44 (43.2 percent) from the field and 20-for-26 (76.9) from the foul line. Rutgers-Camden, playing in its first NJAC playoff game since winning the conference title on March 1, 2003, shot 21-for-71 (29.6) from the field and 6-for-11 (54.5) from the foul line. The Raptors were 6-for-14 (42.9) from three-point range, including 4-for-8 by Greene.
