GLASSBORO, NJ – The Rowan University women's basketball team dropped a heartbreaker to conference rival The College of New Jersey, 79-70 in overtime on Wednesday.
The Profs are now 2-4 on the season with a mark of 1-1 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. The Lions improve to 2-3 on the year with a record of 2-0 in the conference.
For TCNJ, guard/forward Sam Famulare (sr. Freehold, NJ/Freehold Twp.) ended with a game-high 23 points. Forward Shannon Devitt (so. Westfield, NJ/Westfield) contributed a double-double on 12 points and 16 rebounds. Guard Kate O'Leary (sr. Trumbull, CT/Trumbull) chipped in 17 points, while forward Jen Byrne (jr. Medford, NJ/Shawnee) notched 10. Guard Elle Cimilluca (so. Colonia, NJ/Bishop George Ahr) had seven points and dished seven assists.
Guard
Olivia Rulon (sr. Cape May Court House, NJ/Wildwood Catholic) led the way with 19 points, on seven of 10 shooting and five of six from behind the arc. Guard
Dominique Peters (jr. Lawrenceville, NJ/Lawrence) finished with 18 points and grabbed nine rebounds, followed by guard
Grace Marshall (fr. Bellmawr, NJ/Haddon Twp.) with 13 points, six boards and three steals.
Rowan started slow in the extra period as the Lions scored the first four points to take a 69-65 lead (4:27). The Brown and Gold cut the margin to 69-68 after Peters converted a free throw (4:03) and hit a layup (3:33). TCNJ added six straight points to pull ahead, 75-68 (1:10). Rowan fought back but could only manage one basket in the final minute of play.
The Profs held a 38-34 advantage heading into the second half. TCNJ took the lead after it outscored Rowan 6-1 to lead by one (40-39) (7:50). The Brown and Gold answered and took a 44-40 advantage after guard
Nicole Byrne (sr. Brick, NJ/Brick Mem.) hit a three and forward
Jazlyn Duverglas (fr. Hammonton, NJ/Cedar Creek) tallied a pair of free throws. Each team battled it out, but the score was tied at 53 going into the fourth.
Rowan jumped out to a six point lead (63-57) with 4:02 remaining. The Lions responded when Cimilluca and O'Leary notched back-to-back threes to tie the game at 63. TCNJ went ahead 65-63 when Devitt connected on a jump shot. Marshall tied the contest at 65 with 1:01 remaining to force overtime.
The Brown and Gold trailed at the end of the first quarter, 16-15. Rowan pulled ahead 22-18 after Rulon hit a three and guard
Alexis Kriley (so. Fair Lawn, NJ/Fair Lawn) converted a layup (7:42). The Profs built an eight point advantage (38-30) after outscoring the Lions 8-2. Marshall and Rulon each added four points during the surge. TCNJ notched the final six points of the half to trail 38-34 going into the halftime break.
Rowan travels to New Jersey City University on Saturday, Dec. 1, with the contest set to start at 1 p.m.
