Glassboro, NJ…The College of New Jersey women's basketball team dropped a conference game for the first time this season falling 87-82 at Rowan University Wednesday night. The Lions fall to 5-3 overall and 3-1 in league play, while Rowan improves to an identical 5-3 overall and 3-1 NJAC mark.
 
The Lions struggled to solve the Profs press early in the game committing three turnovers and allowing the Profs to jump out to a 16-2 lead. Olivia Rulan was dominant during the stretch scoring six points and nabbing two steals. Rulan finished with 17 points.
 
TCNJ solved the pressure and Jen Byrne (Medford, NJ/Shawnee) poured in eight of the games next 11 points to go along with a three-pointer by Samantha Famulare (Freehold, NJ/Freehold Twp.), cutting the lead to just three. Byrne paced the Lions with 25 points.
 
The Profs would lead after the opening quarter 22-15.
 
After ending the first quarter by scoring the final four points, Rowan continued to build the lead early in the second period. The Profs scored seven unanswered to open up a 14-point advantage.
 
Once again the Lions answered. After a Byrne free throw, Kate O'Leary (Trumbull, CT/ Trumbull) hit a pair of threes and Shannon Devitt (Westfield, NJ/Westfield) hit four straight and the free throw line to again close the gap to just three. Devitt finished with a double-double, scoring 12 points to go along 12 boards and three blocks.
 
A triple by Byrne with just under a minute in the half would give TCNJ their first lead of the game, but the Profs responded taking a 40-39 advantage into the half.
 
The Profs opened the second half much like the first, blowing the game open with a 25-4 run. Alex Raring scored nine points in the run and finished with a career-high 30.
 
With the Lions trailing 73-59, Charlotte Schum (East Hanover, NJ/Morris Catholic) drained a three that sparked an 11-0 run.  Schum scored 20 points in the game to go along with four rebounds and five assists.
 
TCNJ would tie the game at 76, but Rowan would counter with a 9-2 run to put the game out of reach.
 
Rowan forced 21 TCNJ turnovers and held a 24-17 advantage in points off turnovers.
 
The Lions return home for a game against New Jersey City University Saturday. Game time is 1:00 PM.