Box Score

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (Jan. 20, 2018) – The Rutgers University-Camden women's basketball team scored the first 12 points of the game and went on to defeat New Jersey City University, 72-38, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference game here Saturday afternoon.
 
The Scarlet Raptors improve to 9-8 overall and 6-5 in the NJAC, while the Gothic Knights fall to 0-13 and 0-10. Rutgers-Camden has won six straight games over NJCU, including a 79-46 victory Dec. 2 in Camden. The Scarlet Raptors lead the all-time series, 38-24.
 
After senior guard/forward Cara Racobaldo (Pennsauken, NJ/Camden Catholic) gave the Scarlet Raptors a 5-0 lead with a layup and a three-pointer, Rutgers-Camden added field goals from senior forward/center Michelle Obasi (Camden, NJ/Camden Catholic) and sophomore guard Lajerah Wright (Atlantic City, NJ/Atlantic City) before its game-opening run ended with a three-pointer from junior guard Gabby Greene (Howell, NJ/Howell). The Gothic Knights scored their first points 4:32 into the game on a three-pointer by sophomore forward Kayla Clarke (East Rutherford, NJ/Becton Regional).
 
Rutgers-Camden was up, 20-8, after one quarter and 39-15 by halftime. Racobaldo had nine of those points, while Obasi and freshman guard Lexi Bennett (Neptune, NJ/Neptune) had six apiece. The Raptors placed nine players in the scoring column in the opening half, while all 11 of their players reached the scoring column by the end of the game.
 
Obasi led the attack with 12 points, while Greene and Racobaldo added 11 apiece. Racobaldo's points lifted her over the 800 plateau for her career, giving her 809. Racobaldo also dished out a game-high seven assists, raising her program career mark to 444, and her one steal allowed her to tie Jennifer Hans (1991-95) for third on the program's career list with 275.
 
Obasi added four assists and Greene added three steals.
 
Three Scarlet Raptors poured in their Rutgers-Camden career scoring highs, with Bennett and senior forward Michelle McCarthy (Gloucester City, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) notching nine points apiece and freshman guard Erika Tanko (Egg Harbor City, NJ/Cedar Creek) collecting the first four points of her collegiate career. Tanko also set career highs with three rebounds, two assists and two steals.
 
Junior guard/forward Ariel Robinson (Pennsauken, NJ/Camden Catholic),  pictured above, notched nine rebounds and Obasi added eight as the Scarlet Raptors held a 50-33 advantage off the boards.
 
Wright, who finished with four points and five rebounds, notched her first career block and added a career-high three assists.
 
Sophomore forward Tiasia Tatem (Salem, NJ/Salem) collected her Raptor career highs of four rebounds and four assists, while junior guard Brennah Lambert (Lindenwold, NJ/Sterling) scored four points, had a Raptor career high of two assists and tied her high with two rebounds. Freshman guard Jordan Harbaugh (Mantua, NJ/Clearview Regional) chipped in with two points, two rebounds and one block,
 
Rutgers-Camden shot 32-for-72 (44.4) from the field, while NJCU was 13-for-55 (23.6).
 
Rutgers-Camden plays another NJAC game Wednesday when it hosts Rowan University at 6 p.m.