EWING, N.J. – The TCNJ women's basketball team matched the best conference start since the 2013-14 season with a 71-53 win over Ramapo College on Saturday afternoon. The Lions improved to 8-5 overall and 7-0 in NJAC action, while the Roadrunners dropped to 6-8 and 1-6 in the conference.

At the half the Roadrunners were holding onto a slim 25-24 lead, and took a 32-29 lead by way of a three-pointer. The Lions went back out in front with an 11-2 run. Rachel Gazzola found Kate O'Leary on the fast break, and O'Leary hit the three. On the ensuing possession O'Leary set up Shannon Devitt who hit the lay-up, then Gazzola scored on a fast break lay-up off an O'Leary assist to make it a seven point lead.

TCNJ held a 48-43 lead at the start of the fourth quarter, yet ran away with the game by way of a 22-6 run. Elle Cimilluca found Gazzola who knocked down a three-pointer, then Cimilluca hit a jumper of her own. O'Leary followed that up with a bucket, then Gazzola knocked one down again from three-point land to push the lead to 18. The Lions took their biggest lead of the day when Sam Famulare sank a trifecta to make it 70-49 with 2:19 to go.

TCNJ outscored Ramapo 23-10 in the fourth quarter, and shot 9-for-14 (64.3 percent) in the final stanza.

Devitt led the Lions with 17 points and 15 rebounds. That marked her 10th double-double of the season, and coming into today she was placed third in NCAA Division III in that category. Gazzola provided a spark off of the bench, as she scored a career-high 14 points on 5-for-6 shooting including 4-for-5 from beyond the arc. Famulare tallied ten points while O'Leary finished the afternoon with nine.

At halftime, the Lions held a celebration for the Final Four 2008-09 women's basketball team as part of alumni day.

Next up will the Lions will take to the road for a trip to William Paterson on Jan. 9 at 6:00 p.m.