Schedule | Stats | Raider Vision

NEWARK, N.J. (December 23, 2015) - Junior guard Maria Simmons, senior guard Arianna Williams and the Rutgers University-Newark women's basketball defense can all be found among national and conference leaders according to the latest statistical rankings released Tuesday by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

The Starting 5:
1. Simmons, Williams and junior guard Shala Glenn all currently average more than 10 points per game, combing to pour in exactly 50 per outing.
2. Five different Scarlet Raiders have 10 or more steals this season - Simmons, Williams, Glenn, sophomore Nikki Sammartino and sophomore Nicole Skelly.
3. Simmons scored 50 points in her last two games and has at least 15 points, four rebounds and three assists in every game this season. She is averaging 20.9 points, 6.6 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 3.6 steals per game.
4. Williams has at least two three-pointers in every game this season and has drained 30 in the team's 10 contests.
5. Williams (13), Simmons (13), senior Samantha Chirichello (12) and Williams (11) have all recorded double-digit rebounds in a game this season.

Simmons can be found all over the individual ranks, currently sitting No. 1 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) and No. 2 in the entire nation with 66 assists, sitting first in the conference and seventh nationally in assists per game (6.6). Her one triple double is tied for second in the country and is the only one so far in the NJAC this season, and her 36 steals are sixth nationally and tied for first in the conference. Simmons' 20.9 points per game are 14th in the country and second in the conference, while her 357 minutes are 39th overall and No. 2 in the conference. Her 77 made field goals are 10th in Division III and pace the NJAC.

The Irvington, N.J. native cracks the national top-30 in nine different statistical categories through the team's first 10 games this season (4-6).

Back court running mate Arianna Williams is 11th nationally in minutes played and leads the NJAC in that stat, and her 36 steals check in No. 6 in the nation and first in the conference. She is seventh in the nation in three-point field-goals made and attempted, sitting one and two in the NJAC in that stat, and her 3.00 three-pointers per outing are 17th. Her three double-doubles are 51st nationally and fourth in the conference, and she is 46th in the nation in field-goals made.

As a team, R-N is No. 16 in total steals with 124 and No. 37 with 12.4 thefts per game, sitting second and fourth in the conference in those two metrics, respectively. The team sits third in the conference in three-point field-goal percentage and fourth in field-goal percentage, ranking fourth in the NJAC in forced turnovers as well.

The Scarlet Raiders return to the hardwood after winter break when they travel to the Salem State Holiday Classic. The ladies will battle Wheaton College tournament opener on Tuesday, December 29, at 2 p.m.