The Ramapo women’s basketball team lost two games in the past week in close New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) match-ups. The team now sits at 3-5 for the season and 1-2 in the NJAC.
The first was an away game against Kean University last Wednesday where the Roadrunners lost 68-64. Kean had a strong start to the game, with a 36-22 lead at halftime, but Ramapo fought to catch up in the second half. The Roadrunners tied the score in the fourth quarter with seven minutes left, but could not prevent the Cougars from scoring the final shots.
Senior guard Jada Thompson had a strong performance all around. She led the team in points with a season-high 28, added seven rebounds and tied a career-high with eight assists. For Kean, Gissel Gamble led with 25 points and Sarah Weber led with nine rebounds.
Ramapo made 55% (12-22) of their free throws, and were equally inefficient from the floor, shooting 42% (25-60) overall and 17% (2-12) from downtown. The one highlight on offense is that the Roadrunners managed to tally 19 points off turnovers.
The Roadrunners next played Stockton University on Saturday in another away game, losing by two points, 50-48. Ramapo went neck-and-neck with the Ospreys throughout the game. Stockton held a small halftime lead, 23-20, and despite the Roadrunners’ efforts, were able to maintain the lead through the entire second half.
Junior guard Olivia Johnstone led the team with 15 points, and Thompson contributed 10 rebounds. Stockton’s Skylar Fowlkes was the strongest contributor for the Ospreys with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
The Roadrunners shot 83% (5-6) at the free-throw line, and improved their shooting from the last game, finishing 32% (19-59) on the floor and 39% (5-13) from the three-point line.
Over winter break, Ramapo will play in a total of eight NJAC games, giving them an opportunity to gain ground on first place New Jersey City University (NJCU). In that span, the Roadrunners will get a chance to face NJCU, Rowan University, Montclair State University, Rutgers-Camden University, William Paterson University, The College of New Jersey, Rutgers-Newark University and Stockton University.
rgatherc@ramapo.edu
Featured photo courtesy of Ramapo Athletics
