MADISON, N.J. (Jan. 6, 2025) – Sophomore guard Olivia Aliotta tallied a game-high 22 points and two other Drew University players scored in double figures as the Rangers defeated Rutgers University-Camden, 78-59, in a non-conference women's basketball game here Monday night.
The win lifted Drew to 8-3, while Rutgers-Camden fell to 6-6.
Drew took control of the game quickly, scoring the first nine points, including four by junior forward Gianna Pica. Rutgers-Camden, which was held scoreless for the opening 2:36, finally got on the scoreboard on a layup by graduate forward
Aiya Underwood. The Scarlet Raptors added two more points on a pair of foul shots by freshman forward
Courtney Edmundo to cut the gap to 9-4 before Drew rattled off the next 11 points to make it a 20-4 game. By the end of the first quarter, the Rangers held a 24-10 lead.
Rutgers-Camden junior guard/forward
Taja Brown scored the first four points of the second quarter to cut the Scarlet Raptors' deficit to 24-14, but by halftime, the Rangers had established a 52-25 lead. They led, 70-45, after three quarters.
Drew placed nine players in the scoring column. In addition to Aliotta, sophomore guard Amy Rachilla collected 19 points and Pica added 13. Rachilla also collected a team-high five assists and a game-high four steals.
Edmundo collected her fourth double-double of the season for Rutgers-Camden with 12 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Underwood notched 12 points to tie her career high, which was set Dec. 14 against Montclair State. Brown added 10 points.
Raptor freshman guard
Hope Goodwine dished off a game-high seven assists, while senior guard
Rahzirah Blocker notched nine rebounds and eight points. The eight points lifted Blocker's career total to 1,222, moving her into eighth place on the program's all-time list. She passed Megan Rulon, who scored 1,220 points between 2002-06.
Drew shot 28-for-70 (40.0 percent) from the floor and 19-for-21 (90.5) from the foul line, while Rutgers-Camden shot 22-for-62 (35.5) from the floor and 11-for-16 (68.8) from the line. The Scarlet Raptors held a 55-31 advantage off the boards, but also made 30 turnovers to the Rangers' 10.
The Scarlet Raptors return home Wednesday for a 5:30 p.m. New Jersey Athletic Conference game against Stockton University.
