March 1, 2003

FOURTH-SEEDED RUTGERS-CAMDEN WINS 2002-03 NJAC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT TITLE

WIN MARKS THE FIRST NJAC CHAMPIONSHIP FOR CAMDEN AND EARNS RAPTORS THE LEAGUE'S AUTOMATIC NCAA TOURNEY BID

Rutgers Camden won the program’s first-ever New Jersey Athletic Conference  Championship with a 62-46 victory over The College of New Jersey in Ewing.  The Scarlet Raptors, who were seeded fourth in the playoffs, improved to 21-6 overall and earned the conference’s automatic bid to the 2003 NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Tournament.

Camend’s senior center Joy Silver collected a double-double as she poured in 20 points and pulled down 10 boards to lead all players. Freshman Megan Rulon contributed 17 points, including 15 in the second half and 10 of those coming in a five-minute stretch to give the Scarlet Raptors a 54-41 lead at 3:44.  The 2003 NJAC Player of the Year, senior guard Cheryl Kulesa chipped in 11 points, eight caroms, eight assists, and six steals.

TCNJ junior center Adrienne Warner and sophomore Theresa DiMedio each added eight points for the third-seeded Lions, while Warner grabbed six rebounds and DiMedio five. Junior forward Laure Mala and rookie Tiara Simpkins each added seven, while junior Liz Martin, a 2003 NJAC All-Conference Second Team selection, had nine boards and six points. TCNJ ended its 2002-2003 campaign with a 20-7 overall mark.

Rutgers-Camden came out on fire as they opened the first half with a 13-0 run before TCNJ's Mala put the Lions on the scoreboard with a trey at 14:02. The Scarlet Raptors led by as many 18 with 11 minutes remaining before TCNJ closed the half with a 6-0 run, cutting the Raptors' lead to 31-25 at the half.  

Lions’ senior guard Jen Munday knotted the game at 32-32 with a three-pointer at 18:05, but Rutgers-Camden mounted an 18-8 run to pull away and lead 50-40 with 5:01 left in the game. The Scarlet Raptors went on to end the game on a 12-6 spurt en route to their first NJAC title. Rutgers-Camden shot 41.7% (25-60) from the floor for the game to TCNJ’s 35.2% (19-54) and held the Lions to their lowest point total of the season.