Ewing, NJ … In the final game of 2016, the women's basketball team sent The College of New Jersey out winners, as they defeated Arcadia University 72-60 at the Juniata Tournament on Friday afternoon.
 
The Lions outscored the Knights 21-11 in the fourth quarter to improve to 5-6, while Arcadia fell to 4-8. Four TCNJ players reached double figures in the victory led by Nikki Schott (Washington, NJ/Warren Hills.) with 15 points. Schott was a perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line and also collected six rebounds. Senior Kim Dana (Freehold, NJ/Freehold Twp.), junior Chiara Palombi (Manasquan, NJ/Manasquan), and junior Katy Amato (Wyckoff, NJ/Ramapo) each finished it 11 points. Junior Charlotte Schum (East Hanover, NJ/Morris Catholic) grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds and dished out six assists.
 
Free throws were a difference maker for TCNJ in the triumph. Not only did they get to the line 20 times compared to just four visits by Arcadia, but they made 18-of-20 attempts. The Lions also capitalized on 11 offensive rebounds in chalking up 17 second-chance points.
 
The Lions put together an 8-0 run between the first and second quarters, highlighted by three-point field goals off the finger-tips of freshman Christine Woods (River Edge, NJ/River Dell) and junior Cindy Napolitano (Wall, NJ/St. Rose). Schott then knocked down two free throws and TCNJ held a 22-11 lead. The Knights tightened the game up at 24-22 when Susan Bossler drilled a three-pointer. But Dana dropped in a layup and connected from behind the arc to put the Lions up 29-22.
 
Following a timeout, Arcadia netted eight straight points to take a one-point lead. Jaime Manzo hit a jumper and Olivia Roseman deposited back-to-back 3s to give the Knights their first lead of the game. Schott was fouled just before the break and converted both attempts, helping TCNJ regain a 31-30 advantage at the intermission.
 
The game stayed close through the third period. A lay-up by Amato with 2:51 left in the period put the Lions ahead by six, but a 6-0 run by the Knights late in the quarter made it a 51-49 game entering the fourth.
 
 
Napolitano set the tone with a three-point dagger in the opening minute of the final period. Arcadia remained within striking distance, but with 3:12 to play, Schum found sophomore Kate O'Leary (Trumbull, CT/Trumbull) on the left side in transition. She squared up and found nothing but net for a three to give the Lions a 62-53 lead.
 
Arcadia continued to press, but a conventional three by Schott combined with TCNJ hitting 8-of-9 free throws down the stretch secured their fifth victory of the season.
 
O'Leary finished with eight points and six assists, and Napolitano added six points and two rebounds. Schott blocked four shots in the game, including the 100^th of her career. She now ranks fifth all-time in program history with 101 blocked shots.
 
The Lions return home on Wednesday, January 4 to take on New Jersey Athletic Conference opponent William Paterson University at 6 p.m. in Packer Hall.