Newark, NJ – Stockton University (15-8, 11-5 NJAC) used a dominant inside game to fend off a determined effort by Rutgers-Newark (7-16, 2-14) and record a 64-60 victory on the road. Stockton bigs
Najha Treadwell (Cinnaminson/Cinnaminson) and
Sasha Williams (Cherry Hill/CH West) combined for 47 points, 35 rebounds and 10 blocks.
Williams nearly registered a triple-double, finishing with a game-high 25 points, 14 rebounds and eight blocks. Treadwell notched her fifth straight double-double with 22 points and 21 rebounds, one off her career high. The senior shot a near-perfect 11-13 from the field (84.6%). The duo's 35 rebounds equaled Rutgers-Newark team total in the contest.
The teams exchanged baskets in a tight first quarter that featured six lead changes and no margin higher than three. Williams scored eight points and the Ospreys shot 7-10 from the floor, but five turnovers allowed Rutgers-Newark to stay close in a period that ended with the game knotted at 18.
Both squads had trouble putting the ball in the basket during the second quarter. Stockton shot just 26.7 percent (4-15) but bettered the Scarlet Raiders, who hit at even lower 15.8 percent (3-19) from the floor. Treadwell scored six points and Williams had the other two as the Ospreys took the low-scoring period 8-6 for a 26-24 edge at the break.
Stockton briefly trailed 35-33 before scoring the last nine points of the third quarter on four straight by Williams, a three-pointer by
Hailee Porricelli (Howell/Freehold Twp.) and a layup by Treadwell to open up a 42-35 advantage heading into the fourth quarter.
The Ospreys closed strong, shooting 8-11 from the floor (72.7%) in the final period, and needed every bit of its hot shooting to stave off a Rutgers-Newark rally. After a layup by Treadwell made it 57-48 with 3:48 to go, the Scarlet Raiders used a 10-3 run to get within 60-58 with 24 seconds left. Stockton went 4-6 at the line the rest of the way to protect the lead and earn its eighth win in the last nine, 64-60.
Stockton will hit the road again on Saturday for the penultimate game of the regular season, which will be at Kean University at 3 pm.
