CAMDEN, NJ (Jan. 22, 2025) – Rutgers University-Camden honored its 2002-03 women's basketball team during halftime at the third annual Raptor Rally here Wednesday.
 
Following the break, the current women's basketball team gave the honorees another reason to celebrate. The Scarlet Raptors rallied in the fourth quarter to edge Rutgers University-Newark in front of the 2002-03 squad, which was the first Rutgers-Camden team in any sport to capture a New Jersey Athletic Conference championship.
 
Rutgers-Camden outscored Rutgers-Newark, 10-4, in the decisive fourth quarter to post a 41-40 victory, snapping a five-game losing streak. The win lifted the Scarlet Raptors to 7-10 overall and 3-7 in the NJAC. Rutgers-Newark fell to 3-14 overall and 0-10 in conference play with its 11th straight loss.
 
Rutgers-Camden has won four of its last five meetings against Rutgers-Newark, although the Scarlet Raiders still hold a 45-36 lead in the all-time series.
 
Trailing, 36-31, entering the final quarter, the Scarlet Raptors scored six straight points after Newark tallied the first two points of the final frame, cutting their deficit 38-37. After Rutgers-Newark broke its scoring drought to make it a 40-37 game, Camden came back with a layup by graduate forward Aiya Underwood to cut the gap to 40-39. The Scarlet Raptors got the ball back on a missed Newark shot and a rebound by freshman forward Courtney Edmundo. With 10 seconds remaining, freshman guard Hope Goodwine was fouled and calmly sank a pair of foul shots to give the Scarlet Raptors their 41-40 lead. It was the Scarlet Raptors' first lead since a 19-18 score in the second quarter.
 
Newark missed a desperation trey at the buzzer.
 
Senior guard Rahzirah Blocker led the Scarlet Raptors with a game-high 16 points, including 6-for-7 shooting from the foul line, while Goodwine finished with 14 points. She went 6-for-6 from the foul line, all coming in the second half.
 
Edmundo finished with a game-high 15 rebounds to tie her career high set against Ramapo on Dec. 7. She added a game-high three assists.
 
Rutgers-Newark received 14 points, nine rebounds and a game-high five steals from junior guard Sanaa Brodie. Junior guard Raihanna Abdus-Salaam also grabbed nine rebounds, while adding four steals.
 
The Scarlet Raptors held a 55-43 advantage off the boards in a game where they only shot 12-for-53 (22.6 percent) from the floor, while Newark shot 17-for-70 (24.3). Rutgers-Camden won the game at the foul line, shooting 17-for-23 (73.9) compared to the 3-for-5 (60.0) shot by Newark.
 
Rutgers-Camden returns to NJAC action on Saturday with a 1 p.m. game at Ramapo College.