Ewing, NJ … The College of New Jersey women's basketball team dropped an 81-76 decision to Rutgers University-Camden in its New Jersey Athletic Conference opener on Tuesday night in Packer Hall.
 
The Lions (1-2, 0-1 NJAC) fought the Scarlet Raptors (2-0), 1-0 NJAC) the entire contest, but a tremendous performance by junior Michelle Obasi (28 points, eight rebounds, four steals) proved to be the difference.
 
The loss overshadowed a terrific all-around game by junior Charlotte Schum (East Hanover, NJ/Morris Catholic). She registered her first career double-double, tallying 19 points and grabbing 17 rebounds. Freshman Jen Byrne (Medford, NJ/Shawnee) had another strong outing in just her third collegiate game. She finished with a team-high 18 points and five boards. Junior Nikki Schott (Washington, NJ/Warren Hills) also reached double figures with 13 points and seven rebounds.
 
Rutgers-Camden came out strong in the opening period and built a 16-11 advantage. They extended their lead to 25-16 with seven minutes remaining in the half, but the Lions surged to a 12-2 run in just over two minutes. Schum made a great hustle play to gain an offensive rebound. She quickly got the ball back in her hands and drained a three-pointer from the right corner. Byrne then converted a free throw to register a conventional three, before burying a shot from behind the arc on the ensuing possession. Sophomore guard Nicole Shatsky (Marlboro, NJ/Marlboro) punctuated the burst with a three-point field goal from the left corner. When the dust settled, TCNJ suddenly held a 28-27 advantage.
 
RUC recovered to score nine of the final 14 points of the period to enter the break with a 36-33 lead. Sophomore Gabby Green buried three, three-point field goals to lead the Scarlet Raptors with 11 points in the first half, while Byrne netted 10 for the Lions.
 
Trailing 51-49 with 1:40 remaining in the third, Shatsky knocked down another baseline jumper to tie the game at 51. RUC answered with a bucket by Jovan Childers, but Shatsky drove the lane and finished to lock the game up at 53 entering the final period.
 
A three-point bucket by junior Cindy Napolitano (Wall, NJ/St. Rose) briefly put TCNJ on top 66-65. The Scarlet Raptors came right back with an 8-2 spurt to push ahead by five points. Schum drove the lane and got the roll to the cut the deficit to three and Schott followed with two free throws to make it a 63-62 game with six minutes to play.
 
A free throw by  RUC's Caroline Santiago and a three-point dagger by Greene reset the lead to five points for the Scarlet Raptors. Cara Racaboldo then connected on a long three and the lead swelled to 72-64. The Lions continued to push, but could not wrestle the lead away from the visiting Raptors.
 
Shatsky finished with nine points and sophomore Katie O'Leary (Trumbull, CT/Trumbull) dished out a game-high six assists for the Lions.
 
For the Scarlet Raptors, Childers dropped in eight free throws and finished with 18 points and nine rebounds. Greene scored 14 points for RUC, including four, three-point field goals. Racobaldo added eight points and eight boards.
 
TCNJ is back in action next Wednesday, November 30^th when the visit Stockton University for a 6 p.m. match-up.

>