Newark, NJ... The College of New Jersey women's basketball team picked up a win against Rutgers Newark in the final regular season game by a final score of 57-41. With the victory, the Lions push their record to 20-5 and 15-3 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference, while the Scarlet Raiders fall to 7-27 and 2-15 in the conference. Jen Byrne (Medford, NJ/Medford) led the Lions with a game high 23 points.

The Lions jumped out to a 15-6 lead in the first quarter, as with 23 seconds left Charlotte Schum (East Hanover, NJ/Morris Catholic) controlled an offensive rebound and hit the put back lay up to give the Lions the nine point advantage. The Scarlet Raiders were in control in the second quarter, and outscored the Lions 20-13, and the Lions went into the half with 28-26 lead.

The third quarter was a back and forth affair, and the Lions went into the fourth with a 39-38 lead. They turned it on in the fourth quarter, as the defense clamped down and held the Scarlet Raiders to only three points, and outscored them 18-3. The Lions used a 16-0 run to extend their lead to 57-39. Kate O'Leary (Trumbull, CT/Trumbull) knocked down a pair of free throws, and on the ensuing possession O'Leary hit Byrne and Byrne connected from three point range. O'Leary sank another three pointer with a minute and a half to play to put TCNJ up 55-39.

Byrne, as she has been all season long, was difficult to stop on the offensive end, as she scored 23 points on 9-17 shooting and 3-6 from three point range. She finished the regular season with 450 points, which is the sixth highest in a single season in program history. Her 175 field goals are also good for sixth place in a single season all time. Byrne also contributed on the glass with nine rebounds. Schum scored 11 points and grabbed six rebounds, and Shannon Devitt (Westfield, NJ/Westfield) capped off her splendid freshman season with six points and seven rebounds. She finished with 233 rebounds on the year, which is the sixth highest total in program history. O'Leary ended the year with 59 three pointers, which is tied for fifth on the single season all time list. 

The 20 wins is the highest total for a season since the 2008-09 season, in which the Lions advanced to the NCAA Division III Final Four.

The Lions will now shift their focus to the playoffs, and they have a first round bye as they are the two seed. They will host the NJAC semifinals in Packer Hall on Tuesday, February 20th.