With Kehleay and junior guard Sabrina Sanchez (Keasbey, NJ/Woodbridge), who connected for 11 of her game-high 21 points in the opening 20 minutes, supplying the thrust, the Scarlet Raiders rolled to a commanding 48-28 halftime lead. Despite a two-week semester examination break, the Raiders hit a sizzling 56.3% of their shots from the floor in the opening half – including a torrid seven for 11 effort from beyond the arc. Sanchez connected on three of four 3-point efforts in the first half while Kehleay made two of four.
Junior center Stephanie Ross (Nutley, NJ/Nutley) finished with 15 points and five rebounds for Rutgers-Newark (7-3) which won for the seventh time in its last eight games. Junior forward Toni Roselli (Garfield, NJ/St. Mary’s) came off the bench for six points, six rebounds and three assists while forwards Eni Fageyinbo (Morris Plains, NJ/Parsippany Hills) and Indhira Cabrera (West New York, NJ/Memorial) chipped in six points and five rebounds each.
Senior guard Lindsay Meltzer (Woodhaven, NY/Francis Lewis) paced the Hawks (4-6) with 18 points and four assists. She knocked down 10 of 13 free throws. Reserve forward Andrea Buckham (Queens, NY/Flushing) chalked up a double-double, pouring in 11 points and hauling down a game-high 13 rebounds. Freshman guard Sharee Branch-El Vielot (Queens, NY/Canarsie) notched 12 points while junior guard Mona McKenzie (New York, NY/Park West) dished out a team-high five assists.
The Raiders visit Merchant Marine on Wednesday at 7 p.m. for a non-conference contest. The Hawks will kick off a home CUNYAC women’s and men’s twinbill against Lehman on Wednesday, tipping in the opening game at 5 o’clock.