Box Score
GLASSBORO, NJ – Forward Sara Best scored a game-high 16 points and pulled down 11 rebounds to lead The College of New Jersey to a 68-53 win over Rowan University in a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) game on Saturday.
Best (jr. High Bridge, NJ/Voorhees) made six of 12 field goals and four of five foul shots. The 11 rebounds tied her career-high. Center Hillary Klimowicz (so. Scotch Plains, NJ/Scotch Plains-Fanwood) was also in double figures with 14 points. Forward Breanne Depken (sr. Oradell, NJ/River Dell) added nine points and 12 boards. Guard Lisa Koch (so. Oak Ridge, NJ/Jefferson Twp.) dished a career best seven assists.
The College of New Jersey improves to 11-13 overall and 6-6 in the conference. Rowan has a 9-14 overall record and a 2-9 NJAC mark. Forward Lauren Byrne (sr. Paulsboro, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) and guard Kristina Wallace (jr. Logan Twp., NJ/Clearview Reg.) scored 11 points apiece. Byrne grabbed eight rebounds, while Wallace recorded seven assists. Guard Susan Massara (jr. Hammonton, NJ/Hammonton) contributed with eight points.
Rowan was up, 29-26 at halftime. TCNJ started the second period with a 10-0 run over the first 4:40 to lead 36-29. Guard Karen Lassoni (fr. East Rutherford, NJ/Becton Reg.) and Best each had four points, while Depken added two. Rowan narrowed the deficit to two points (41-39) following a layup by guard Trinee Smith (jr. Williamstown, NJ/Cumberland Christian School). TCNJ had a 12-3 surge for an 11 point advantage (53-42) with 6:37 remaining. Klimowicz scored five points in the stretch. The Lions had their biggest lead, 15 points (68-53) after two free throws by Best with six seconds left.
In the first half, the score was tied eight times before the Profs went ahead. Guard Nicole Perrini (jr. Parsippany, NJ/Parsippany Hills) nailed a three-pointer with nine seconds remaining to give Rowan a 29-26 advantage heading into intermission. Wallace led all first half scorers with seven points, followed by Massara with six. For TCNJ, Best had four points and Koch recorded six assists.
