Ewing, NJ… In the opening round of the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championships, The College of New Jersey women's basketball team defeated Hilbert College by a final score of 61-42. With the win the Lions push their record to 22-6, and the Hawks fall to 21-7

In the second quarter, the score was locked up at 19-19, and the Lions went on a 15-2 run to push their lead to 13. With 2:23 remaining in the half, Charlotte Schum (East Hanover, NJ/Morris Catholic) found Shannon Devitt (Westfield, NJ/Westfield) and Devitt hit the jumper to make it 31-21. Devitt was a major factor in this game, and with seven seconds to go she hit a lay up as she was fouled and made the free throw to complete the and one and give the Lions momentum heading into the locker room.

Schum continued to distribute the basketball, as she found Samantha Famulare (Freehold, NJ/Freehold Twp.) from beyond the arc and Famulare hit to put the Lions up 37-21. Devitt hit back to back lay ups, to give the Lions a 41-21 lead, the largest of the game. Lauren Barlow (Spotswood, NJ/Bishop George AHR) sank a three pointer to push the Lions lead to 44-27. The Lions controlled the remainder of the game to hold onto the victory.

Devitt, as she has been all season, played terrific basketball as she scored 21 points on an efficient 10-15 (66%) shooting, and pulled down 15 rebounds. She also pitched in on the defensive efforts with three blocked shots and two steals. Barlow tallied 14 points coming off of the bench and also added seven boards. Schum tallied eight assists, and was active on the defensive end as she registered five steals, and Jen Byrne (Medford, NJ/Shawnee) added nine points. 

The leading scorer for Hilbert was Taylor Corts who scored 18 points. 

The Lions continued to play unselfish basketball, as they tallied 21 assists on 26 field goals. The Lions also had the advantage in close, as they outscored the Hawks 38-18 in the paint. 

With the victory, the Lions advance to the second round of the NCAA DIII Women's Basketball Championships to face Rochester Institute of Technology, that will take place tomorrow, March 3rd in Packer Hall.