The Ramapo College women’s basketball team returned to the court Wednesday evening at home in a game against Saint Elizabeth University at 5:30 p.m. They opened their season with a big win, defeating the Eagles, 73-52.
Ramapo started the game off strong as they took the lead first and never looked back. Even with Saint Elizabeth outscoring Ramapo 37-30 in the second half of the game, Ramapo’s two strong quarters in the first half of action gave them a 43-15 lead.
Jackie Ventricelli led the scoring for the Roadrunners with a game-high 18 points. Olivia Johnstone had the second-most points for the Roadrunners, following with 14 points.
Bridget Cahill was on the court for a team-high 36 minutes, scoring nine points, six of which were via the three-pointer. Cahill also collected five rebounds and a steal. Shannon Burns led the team in rebounds with 13.
Collectively, the Roadrunners shot 55% from the field. Ramapo scored 16 of their points off second chances, 17 points off turnovers and 36 points in the paint. Ramapo also out-rebounded the Eagles 59-53.
In the 2022 New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Women’s Basketball preseason poll, the Roadrunners were picked to finish eighth in the league out of ten teams.
Ramapo head coach Mike Eineker is in his 15th season in charge of the Roadrunners where they will look to make their fifth NJAC Tournament appearance in program history.
Ramapo enters the new season with Cahill, who was second on the team in points last season and recorded the most three-pointers on the team. Other key returners who are expected to play a major role this season include Johnstone, Burns and Ventricelli.
Ramapo also welcomes back Jada Thompson, who earned NJAC Women’s Basketball Rookie of the Year and NJAC Second Team All-Conference. Thompson led the team in scoring, assists and steals last season.
The Roadrunners will take on Old Westbury in another non-conference game on Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. before going on the road Nov. 16 at York College. Ramapo will return home Nov. 19 against Centenary University before the team hosts Rutgers-Newark University in its first NJAC game of the season on Nov. 22 at 5:30 p.m. at the Bradley Center.
twaschek@ramapo.edu
Photo courtesy of Ramapo Athletics.
