Rutgers-Camden, which snapped a nine-game losing streak, improves to 7-17 overall and 2-13 in the NJAC. Kean, which has lost four straight games, falls to 7-16 and 4-10.
The game also served as Senior Day for the Lady Raptors, who recognized their lone player who will be graduating this spring, guard/forward Lisa Geiger (Gloucester City, NJ/Gloucester), who is a senior academically despite having junior eligibility. She is a three-year letterwinner for the Raptors after missing the entire season during her first year in college due to an injury.
Rutgers-Camden built a 40-36 halftime lead as Geiger had nine points and Hafiz added eight in the opening half. For Kean, freshman forward Chi Clark (Maplewood, NJ/Columbia) had 10 points and freshman forward Kimberly Smith (Burlington Township, NJ/Burlington Township) added eight in the opening 20 minutes, which featured six lead changes and three ties.
The Lady Raptors opened up a 46-36 lead with the first three field goals of the second half, but Kean rattled off 11 straight points to take its last lead of the night, 47-46. Rutgers-Camden followed with an 18-6 run, sparked and capped by field goals from Rulon, to take the lead for good.
In addition to Hafiz and Rulon, sophomore guard Kelly Stafford (Gloucester City, NJ/Gloucester) notched 13 points and a career-high eight assists for the Raptors, while Geiger and junior forward Carmen Zimmitt (Woodstown, NJ/Woodstown) had 12 points apiece. Hafiz added five steals and Zimmitt had eight rebounds.
Stafford’s old high for assists was six, accomplished twice, most recently against Lincoln Jan. 8.
For Kean, Smith finished with a game-high 18 points and added nine rebounds. Freshman forward Brittany Cleveland (Mays Landing, NJ/Oakcrest) notched a double-double with 10 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. Clark finished with 13 points, while senior guard Missy Magyar (Iselin, NJ/Bishop George Ahr) had 12 points, five assists, four steals and six rebounds.
The Cougars play host to Rutgers-Newark Wednesday at 6 p.m. in their final game at D’Angola Gymnasium, which will be replaced next season by Kean’s new Health and Wellness Center.
The Lady Raptors finish their season Feb. 19 at William Paterson University with a 1 p.m. NJAC game.