MAHWAH, N.J. (Jan. 7, 2023) – A trio of Ramapo College players scored in double figures as the Roadrunners held off Rutgers University-Camden, 55-45, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference women's basketball game here Saturday afternoon.
 
Ramapo, which was picked for eighth in the pre-season NJAC coaches' poll, improved its conference-leading record to 6-1. The Roadrunners are 11-2 overall.
 
Rutgers-Camden fell to 2-12 overall and 0-7 in the NJAC.
 
The Scarlet Raptors still lead the all-time series, 42-25.
 
Sophomore guard Jackie Ventricelli collected 16 points and six steals for Ramapo, while sophomore guard Jada Thompson notched a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds. Sophomore guard Olivia Johnstone added 11 points for Ramapo.
 
After Rutgers-Camden took its lone lead of the day on a game-opening field goal by senior guard Abigail Sampona, Ramapo tied the game on a layup by Ventricelli and went ahead, 4-2, on a layup by Thompson. Raptor junior forward Carleigh Galasso tied the game at 4-4 on a jumper, but the Roadrunners took the lead for good on a jumper by Thompson, followed by a three-pointer from Ventricelli.
 
The Roadrunners led, 16-8, after one quarter, They were up by a 23-16 margin in the second quarter before the Raptors cut the gap to two points with a trey from junior guard Jania Pitts and a jumper by senior guard/forward Rahzirah Blocker.
 
Ramapo scored the final seven points of the quarter to take a 30-21 lead into halftime and the Roadrunners established a 43-33 lead late in the third quarter before Rutgers-Camden rallied. The Raptors cut their deficit to 43-36 entering the final quarter on a foul shot and a layup by senior guard/forward Jalissa Pitts. Galasso opened the fourth quarter with a field goal to cut the margin to 43-38, but Ramapo held the Raptors scoreless for the next 6:39, while going on a 12-0 run to put the game away.
 
Blocker scored a game-high 18 points for Rutgers-Camden, shooting 8-for-17 from the floor, including 1-for-2 from three-point range. She was 1-for-2 from the foul line. Galasso added seven points, while Sampona and Jalissa Pitts both added six.
 
Sampona had a team-high eight rebounds and three assists, setting her career rebounding high.
 
Both teams collected 38 rebounds, but Ramapo shot 23-for-57 (40.4 percent) from the floor, while Rutgers-Camden shot 17-for-54 (31.5).
 
The Scarlet Raptors host New Jersey City University in a 3 p.m. NJAC game Wednesday.