PHOENIXVILLE, Penn. (Nov. 12, 2024) – The Rutgers University-Camden women's basketball team held host University of Valley Forge scoreless over a span of 9:16 in the opening half as it opened up a 23-point lead. The Scarlet Raptors went on to defeat the Patriots, 89-54 in a non-conference game here Tuesday night to raise their season-opening record to 2-0.
 
The win gives Rutgers-Camden its first two-game winning streak since Dec. 11 and 14, 2021, when it defeated Rutgers-Newark (61-52) and Bryn Athyn (67-60) back-to-back. The Scarlet Raptors also opened the season with two victories for the first time since they won their first four games during the 2019-20 campaign.
 
The victory also doubled the Scarlet Raptors' win total from the entire 2023-24 season.
 
Valley Forge falls to 1-2.
 
Rutgers-Camden took the lead for good, 16-15, on a layup by senior forward Taylor Hinson with 2:45 remaining in the first quarter. After a three-pointer by senior guard Na'Caia Jackson hiked the margin to 19-15, the Patriots cut the cap to 19-17 on a jumper by freshman guard Saniya Green. Her field goal, with exactly 2:00 remaining in the opening quarter, turned out to be the last points for the Patriots until sophomore forward Olivia Rochkind scored on a layup with 2:44 left in the half.
 
Rutgers-Camden led, 22-17, after one quarter and continued a 21-point run in the second quarter to increase its margin to 40-17 before Rochkind's basket. The Scarlet Raptors' 18 straight points to open the second quarter included six by freshman forward Courtney Edmundo, who was named the New Jersey Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Rookie of the Week on Monday.
 
By halftime, the Scarlet Raptors held a 44-23 lead, led by nine points from Edmundo and eight from senior guard Lanae Johnson-Kleinpeter. Rochkind had nine of the Patriots' 23 first-half points.
 
Edmundo finished with 15 points to lead the Scarlet Raptors. While completing her first collegiate double-double with 10 rebounds, including nine off the defensive boards. Edmundo also had four steals to pace the Raptors.
 
Freshman guard Mya Patino scored 12 points, senior guard Rahzirah Blocker netted 11 points and Hinson added 10 for Rutgers-Camden. Freshman guard Hope Goodwine led Rutgers-Camden with four assists and freshman guard/forward Amelia Zinckgraf added three assists.
 
Rochkind scored a game-high 17 points for Valley Forge,
 
Rutgers-Camden shot 36-for-75 (48.0 percent) from the floor, including 10-for-20 (50.0) from three-point range. The Scarlet Raptors went 7-for-13 (53.8) from the foul line.
 
Valley Forge shot 24-for-59 (40.7) from the floor and 4-for-12 (33.3) from the line. The Patriots also made 25 turnovers, while the Scarlet Raptors made 14.
 
The Scarlet Raptors return to action this weekend in the John K. Adams Tip-Off Classic at Rutgers-Newark. The Raptors will face Cairn University on Friday at 6 p.m. and battle FDU-Florham Sunday at 2 p.m.