Ewing, NJ… The College of New Jersey women's basketball team (16-5, 11-3 NJAC) picked up a win over  Rowan University (11-9, 8-6 NJAC) in a conference match-up from Packer Hall on Wednesday night.
   
The Lions opened up the game with an 18-8 stretch which was capped off by a lay in from Shannon Devitt (Westfield, NJ/Westfield) after taking a pass from Lauren Barlow (Spotswood, NJ/ Bishop George AHR). Charlotte Schum (East Hanover, NJ/Morris Catholic) found Nikki Schott (Washington, NJ/Warren Hills) and Schott beat the buzzer with a three pointer to put the Lions up 23-10.

In the second stanza, the Lions used a 17-5 stretch to extend their lead to 42-25. Samantha Famulare (Freehold, NJ/Freehold Twp.) grabbed an offensive rebound and hit the put back to put the Lions up 17, and a free throw from Schum made it a 17 point advantage.

The Profs did not allow the Lions to run away with the game, as they battled back in the third quarter and chipped away at the Lion lead, getting it down to as little as four points. In the fourth, the Lions were up 67-61, and Schott knocked down her third three pointer of the game to push the lead to nine. A minute later, Kate O'Leary (Trumbull, CT/Trumbull) knocked down a triple off a nice pass from Jen Byrne (Medford, NJ/Shawnee) to put the Lions up 73-64. Rowan answered on the next possession with a bucket from Samantha Tello. With just under two minutes to play the Lions were holding onto a 76-71 lead, and Byrne hit a jumper to push the lead to seven. The final two minutes the Lions made their free throws and made the stops on defense to claim the victory.

Byrne scored a game high 30 points, and made it a double-double as she added 12 rebounds. Devitt added 12 points and was a force on the glass, as she set a new career high with 18 rebounds. Schott scored 20 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, and both Schott and Devitt played strong low post defense as they registered three blocked shots,. Byrne went a perfect 10-10 at the free throw line, and Famulare added 10 points and seven rebounds. 

The Lions held a strong advantage on the glass, as they out rebounded the Profs 61-42, and the 61 boards is a new season high. They grabbed an impressive 32 offensive rebounds, and won the second chance points battle 18-9.

With the win the Lions remain undefeated at Packer Hall as they are now 9-0 at home this season. 

Next up, the Lions face Ramapo College on the road for another conference test on Saturday, February 3rd at 1pm.