CAMDEN, N.J. (Jan. 26, 2019) – The Rutgers University-Camden women's basketball team overcame a tough second quarter with a strong second half as the Scarlet Raptors defeated Kean University, 73-65, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference game here Saturday afternoon.
 
Rutgers-Camden improves to 12-8 overall and 7-6 in the NJAC, while Kean falls to 8-11 and 5-7. The Cougars lead the all-time series, 49-22, although the teams split their home-and-home series this season. Kean won a double-overtime thriller on its court in December.
 
In a strange first half, the game transformed from an apparent blowout to looking like another barnburner. Rutgers-Camden built a 21-6 lead after one quarter, only to watch Kean roar back with a 28-11 second-quarter run to grab a 34-32 halftime lead.
 
Rutgers-Camden quickly grabbed the lead in the third quarter on a three-pointer by senior guard Gabby Greene, making it a 35-34 game. It was the first of five lead changes in the third quarter and seven changes in the second half.
 
After building a 54-48 lead entering the final quarter, the Scarlet Raptors watched Kean score the first seven points of the final period, including the last five by Cougar freshman guard Shannon McCoy, who had a stellar game with 32 points and six assists.
 
Rutgers-Camden regained the lead for good, 56-55, on a jumper by senior guard/forward Ariel Robinson, pictured above. Moments later, a steal by Greene led to a layup by junior guard Fatimah Williams. Although McCoy cut the Raptors' lead to 58-57 with a layup, it was the closest the Cougars came the rest of the way. A jumper by Robinson and a layup by sophomore guard Shane Holmes padded the lead to 62-57. Rutgers-Camden scored 11 of the next 16 points to make it a 73-62 game before the Cougars notched a late three-pointer by sophomore guard Casey Filiault for the final margin.
 
Williams led the Scarlet Raptors with 21 points, eight rebounds and three steals, while freshman guard Wykira Johnson-Kelley notched 20 points, five boards, three assists and two steals.
 
Greene scored 16 points, aided by 4-for-8 shooting from three-point range, and added five rebounds, three assists and three steals. Her 16 points hiked her career total to 1,232 points, moving her into sixth place on the program's all-time scoring list. She passed Megan Rulon (2002-06), who finished with 1,220 points and now sits only eight points from tying Ta-Wanda Preston (1989-92) for fifth place.
 
Robinson, meanwhile, had a stellar game with 14 points, six rebounds and a team-high four assists, while adding one block and one steal.
 
Holmes dished off six assists, tying the Cougars' McCoy for game-high honors.
 
In addition to McCoy's 32 points, Filiault scored 13 and grabbed a team-high seven rebounds for the Cougars.
 
Rutgers-Camden shot 27-for-53 (50.9 percent) from the floor, while Kean shot 26-for-69 (37.7). The Cougars held a 44-31 advantage off the boards.
 
Rutgers-Camden returns to NJAC action Wednesday with a 6 p.m. game at The College of New Jersey.