Box Score
GALLOWAY, NJ – The Richard Stockton College women’s basketball team ended Rowan University’s season with an 83-70 win in a play-in game of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championship Tournament.
On Saturday, February 18, Richard Stockton (15-11) travels to the second seed North Division Montclair State University (18-7) for the first round of the NJAC Championship Tournament at 1 p.m. The Profs and Ospreys were tied for third place in the conference’s South Division, which forced a play-in game to determine which team advanced to the NJAC Championship Tournament. Rowan finished the year with a 10-16 overall record.
In the other first round game on Saturday, second seed South Division The College of New Jersey (17-8) hosts the third seed North Division Rutgers-Newark (17-7) at 1 p.m. The top seeds from the North Division William Paterson University (23-2) and the South Division Kean University (21-4) received first round byes. The conference tournament semifinals are scheduled for Tuesday, February 21 and the championship is slated for Friday, February 24.
Richard Stockton had five players in double figures. Forward Lauren Alwan (so. Winslow, NJ/Timber Creek) totaled 22 points and nine rebounds. Guard Sarah Gibbs (jr. Ocean View, NJ/Ocean City) contributed with 13 points while guard Aliyah Nelson (sr. Pleasantville, NJ/St. Joseph) and guard/forward Che’Na Thompson (jr. Salem, NJ/Salem) each chipped in with 12. Thompson also grabbed 12 boards. Guard Brittany Muniz (fr. Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill E.) added 11 points and center LaTonya Oliver (sr. West Berlin, NJ/Overbrook) collected 11 rebounds.
For Rowan, forward Lauren Gregg (sr. Collingswood, NJ/Collingswood) scored a game-high 24 points. She also pulled down 10 boards and blocked five shots. Center Kate Matthews (fr. Clark, NJ/Arthur L. Johnson) and guard Kaitlin Schullstrom (fr. Colts Neck, NJ/Colts Neck) produced 13 and 12 points respectively. Forward Erin Farrell (jr. Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) registered 10 points while guard Chanelle Banta (sr. Bergenfield, NJ/Bergenfield) posted nine rebounds. Guard Alissa Lamey (sr. Northfield, NJ/Mainland Reg.) dished six assists and finished her career with 449, which is the school record.
The Ospreys started the second half with a nine point lead (41-32). Alwan’s jumper at 18:49 made the score 48-36. She had a basket at 16:49 for an 11 point advantage (52-41). The Profs came within three points (54-51) at 12:40 after a 10-2 run. Matthews and Schullstrom contributed four points apiece and Gregg had two.
The Profs scored six straight points to pull within five (52-47). Gregg (16:40), Farrell (15:54) and Matthews (15:25) each contributed with two. Thompson hit a jump shot (15:05) then Matthews (14:39) and Schullstrom (13:02) each had a basket to trail by three (54-51). Schullstrom then cut the deficit to one (54-53) with a layup (12:40).
Alwan’s layup (11:36) and Muniz’s three (11:10) pushed Richard Stockton up by eight (59-51). Center Stephanie Krauss (jr. Franklinville, NJ/Delsea Reg.) converted two foul shots (9:15) and the Profs were down by five (62-57). A 5-0 spurt put the Ospreys ahead 67-57 with 6:49 remaining. Gregg made two free throws at 5:08 to cut the deficit to six (69-63). At 3:38, Farrell’s foul shot made the score 70-64. Richard Stockton had a 6-0 run to lead by 12 (76-64) with 2:05 on the clock. Thompson made a layup, Nelson nailed a three and Oliver had a foul shot.
In the first period, Richard Stockton had an eight point lead (14-6) at 15:47. Alwan contributed with seven of the 14 points. Schullstrom’s three at the 14 minute mark put the Profs within one point (16-15). Gregg tied the score (16-16) with a foul shot at 12:49. The Ospreys went back up by six points (24-18) at 9:43 after two free throws from Nelson. Gregg drained a three (7:16) and the Profs trailed by one (26-25). Rowan took the lead (28-26) with a three-point play by Gregg at 6:40. Gibbs sank two fouls shots at 5:13. Her second tied the score at 28. Guard/forward Alex Nardoza (fr. Woodbridge, NJ/Woodbridge) and Gibbs each had a basket for a four point lead (32-28) at 4:03. Gibbs’ three-pointer at 3:14 made the score 37-30. Richard Stockton was ahead at the break 41-32.
