NEWARK, N.J. – The TCNJ women's basketball team headed to Rutgers-Newark on Monday night in a makeup game after the teams' contest a little more than a week ago was postponed due to the forecast of bad weather. The delay helped to increase the game's stakes as both teams entered the night with identical 9-3 records in NJAC play, tied for second place in the league.
 
Second place in the NJAC now solely belongs to TCNJ after the Lions' 45-43 victory in The Golden Dome. The Lions came back from an eight-point deficit with less than five minutes to play to earn the big win.
 
The Lions capped that comeback with a second-chance three-point play. Shannon Devitt missed a jumper from the right baseline and got her own offensive rebound. She was fouled as she scored to tie the game at 43. She completed the three-point play to give TCNJ a one-point lead with 10 seconds remaining.
 
After a turnover and a free throw from Nicole Shatsky to make it 45-43 with two seconds to play, Rutgers-Newark advanced the ball after a timeout, but its last-second shot hit the back iron to give the Lions the win.
 
Trailing, 38-30, Shatsky hit a three pointer to cut into that deficit with 4:28 remaining. She hit two free throws to cut it to 40-35 with 3:43 left. Devitt hit a layup to make it 41-39 with 1:44 left, and Jen Byrne scored from inside to make it 43-41 Rutgers-Newark with a minute to play. That set up the turnover on the next defensive possession to give TCNJ the ball for Devitt's three-point play.
 
Shatsky and Byrne each finished with a team-high 13 points. Devitt finished with 11 points and a team-leading eight rebounds and four steals.
 
The TCNJ defense continued its stellar run. Monday's 43 points allowed marked the seventh time in eight games that the Lions allowed fewer than 60 points in a game. It's also the third consecutive game that it's allowed fewer than 50 points.
 
Both teams struggled from the field in the first half as TCNJ carried a 17-15 halftime lead. The Lions shot 28.6 percent from the floor while the Scarlet Raiders shot 22.6 percent. Shatsky led TCNJ with six points in the first half on a pair of three pointers.
 
TCNJ took a 27-22 lead on a Byrne jumper with 5:35 left in the third quarter, but Rutgers-Newark went on a 10-0 run to carry a 32-28 lead into the fourth period. That run extended into the 16-2 run that gave Rutgers-Newark a 38-30 lead with 4:42 remaining in regulation.
 
The Lions return home after a quick turnaround to face Rutgers-Camden on Wednesday night at 6 p.m. The game is part of Tropical Night, and fans are encouraged to wear beach attire while receiving free leis and sunglasses at the gate.