Camden, NJ… The College of New Jersey women's basketball team opened New Jersey Athletic Conference play with a win for the first time since the 2013-14 season, defeating Rutgers-Camden 75-72 on the road Tuesday night. The Lions are now 2-1 on the year and 1-0 in league play. The Scarlet Raptors dropped to 2-2 overall and 0-1 in the conference.
 
The Lions jumped out to a quick 15-8 lead knocking down their first six shots. Samantha Famulare (Freehold, NJ/Freehold Twp.) was 3-for-3 during the stretch including a triple for seven early points. Famulare finished with 13 points.
 
Michelle Obasi took over for the Scarlet Raptors at that point, scoring five points during a 7-2 run that tied the score at 17. Obasi finished the game with 27 points to lead all scorers.
 
Rutgers-Camden led 22-19 after the opening quarter.
 
The Scarlet Raptors extended the lead as high as six at 29-23 in the second quarter. The Lions closed out the half on a 10-0 run, with four points from Jen Byrne (Medford, NJ/Shawnee) to take a 39-33 lead into the break. Byrne had 17 points in the first half and finished with a team-high 24.
 
After a Byrne three extended the lead to 52-44, Rutgers-Camden responded with an 11-2 run, six points from Obasi. The Scarlet Raptors led 57-56 after three quarters.
 
The Lions opened the fourth quarter hot with Shannon Devitt (Westfield, NJ/Westfield) scoring eight straight points  and giving the Lions a lead they would not give up. Devitt recorded the first double-double of her collegiate career with 13 points and a game-high 14 rebounds.
 
The Scarlet Raptors made a comeback effort, but three pointers on back-to-back possessions from Kate O'Leary (Trumbull, CT/Trumbull) and a missed three at the buzzer by Gabby Greene ensured the Lions exited victorious. O'Leary scored 19 points and was 5-for-9 from long range.
 
TCNJ out-rebounded Rutgers-Camden 47-36.
 
TCNJ returns home Saturday for a non-conference test against Hunter College at 1:00 PM.