EWING, NJ -- Rowan fell 70-68 at The College of New Jersey Tuesday night in the Profs' NJAC opener.

Nicole Mallard netted 22 points and Grace Marshall added 20 but a last-chance three pointer did not fall as the two teams held a lead no larger than seven throughout the evening.

The Lions' Julia Setaro led all scorers with 23 points. Teammate Emily Toy kicked in 16 as she and Setaro combined for nine of the team's 12 three-pointers.

In the first quarter, Mallard's three-point play gave the Profs a 12-5 edge midway through the stanza. However, TCNJ answered with 10-straight points to end the frame for a 15-12 lead. The second quarter saw the home team build its largest lead (21-14) after a three from Toy with 7:10 before the half. Rowan wrestled the score down to 29-28 at the break.

An entertaining third quarter saw four ties and eight lead changes between the two teams that ended in a 44-44 score heading into the final period. Buckets from Mackenzie O'Brien and Kennedy Brown to open the fourth gave the Profs a 48-44 advantage. The Lions put together a 10-4 run capped by a three from Toy for a 59-54 home lead with 4:17 to play. Mallard, who scored 11 of her 22 points in the fourth, drained a three of her own followed by a tough bucket underneath from Eliana Santana would knot the game once again.

Toy struck again with a three with 1:37 showing for a three-point edge. After a triple from Marshall with 10 seconds left to pull Rowan within 69-68, the Lions would hit one of two from the line on the next possession. Rowan had one last look at a three but was turned away by a block to seal the outcome.

O'Brien contributed nine rebounds while Savanna Holt tied a career high with four steals.

Rowan travels to Salisbury on Saturday for a non-conference clash.