GALLOWAY, NJ – The Rowan University women's basketball team suffered its first loss of the season in a 72-68 defeat at Stockton University in the New Jersey Athletic Conference opener on Tuesday.
The Profs are 3-1 overall while the Ospreys stay perfect with a 4-0 mark.
Rowan was down 18 (65-47) with 1:03 to play in the third quarter. Guard
Alexis Kriley (fr. Fair Lawn, NJ/Fair Lawn) sank a three-pointer (0:49) and that set off a 16-0 run by the Profs to cut the deficit to two (65-63) with 5:18 left in the fourth. Center
April Szymczyk (jr. Jackson, NJ/Jackson Liberty) tallied five points and guard
Valerie Garofalo (sr. Ventnor, NJ/Holy Spirit) added four points in the stretch.
Forward Sasha Williams (jr. Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill West) made a pair of foul shots (3:03) to put Stockton ahead by four. Garofalo converted a free throw (2:43) and Szymczyk had a layup (2:07) and Rowan trailed by one (67-66). Forward April Peterson (so. Lafayette, NJ/High Point Reg.) hit a jumper (1:43) and the Ospreys were up by three again. Szymczyk made a jump shot at the 29-second mark and it was a one-point game (69-68). Williams sank one shot at the foul line (0:22) then the Profs missed a three-point attempt and guard Taylor Christina (sr. Franklinville, NJ/Delsea Reg.) grabbed the rebound. Christina was fouled and drilled both free throws (0:05) to clinch the win.
Forward Najha Treadwell (jr. Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) and Williams both finished with a double-double. Williams totaled 20 points and 18 rebounds while Treadwell registered 17 points and 15 boards. Williams also blocked four shots. Christina ended the contest with 11 points. Guard Lea Mendolla (jr. Nutley, NJ/Mount Saint Dominic Academy) and Peterson corralled seven rebounds apiece.
Guard
Anyssa Sanchez (sr. Pine Hill, NJ/Sterling) and Szymczyk both produced 14 points for Rowan. Sanchez also grabbed nine rebounds. Garofalo contributed with 11 points and guard
Summer Crilley (jr. Galloway, NJ/Holy Spirit) chipped in with nine points and six boards. Guard/forward
Alex Raring (jr. Linwood, NJ/Mainland Reg.) scored eight points while guard
Samantha Tello (fr. Elmwood Park, NJ/St. Mary's) tallied four steals.
Szymczyk made the first basket of the game before Stockton embarked on a 27-6 run for a 27-8 advantage with 1:09 to go in the first. Williams and Christina had seven and six points respectively. The Profs cut the deficit to 12 (32-20) with 6:56 left before halftime. The Ospreys scored 11 of the next 15 for a 19-point cushion (43-24) with 3:29 to go and went into the break with a 50-32 lead. Treadwell poured in 13 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in the first half.
Stockton started the third quarter with 10 of the first 14 points for its largest lead of the game at 24 (60-36) with 5:42 on the clock. Williams had six of the points and Treadwell added four. Rowan followed with an 11-1 surge to trail 61-47 (1:46). Four different players scored in the stretch. The Ospreys registered the next four points to make the score 65-47 before the Profs' final rally.
Rowan welcomes Lehman College for the home opener on Saturday, Nov. 26 at 1 p.m.
