LANGHORNE, Penn. (Nov. 15, 2012) – Just when it appeared that the Rutgers University-Camden women's basketball team was about to let a big early lead slip away, sophomore guard Lillian Chukwueze (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East) turned the tide in the Scarlet Raptors' season opener here Thursday night.
Rutgers-Camden went on to place five players in double figures and nine in the scoring column on the way to a 96-60 victory over Cairn University in the season opener for both teams.
The opening win marked the third straight season the Scarlet Raptors have won their opener under third-year Head Coach Gail Gilchrest. The last time the program accomplished that feat came during the 2000-01, 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons.
The Raptors' 96 points were the most since a 99-27 victory over Valley Forge Christian College on Nov. 28, 2005.
Rutgers-Camden raced to huge early leads of 15-4, 19-6 and 25-9 early in the game. The Highlanders, however, fought back with eight straight points and, after a Raptor basket, another eight-spot, cutting the margin to 27-25. Junior guard Haley Weber (Newfane, NY/Newfane) scored 13 of those 16 points for Cairn, including three treys, on her way to a game-high 23 points.
Chukwueze, however, countered with two straight layups to spark a 17-point Scarlet Raptor run, putting the game out of reach at 44-25. By halftime, the Scarlet Raptors were ahead, 58-27, behind red-hot 26-for-36 shooting from the floor (72.2 percent).
Rutgers-Camden finished the game shooting 60.6 percent (43-for-71), while Cairn shot 37.9 percent (22-for-58). The Raptors also held a 31-16 advantage off the boards.
Senior guard/forward Brittany Turner (Belleville, NJ/Queen of Peace) and sophomore guard Alex Gravinese (Audubon, NJ/Audubon) finished with 16 points apiece for the Scarlet Raptors, while Chukwueze tied her career high of 15 points.
Junior forward Courtney Luogo (Pine Hill, NJ/Overbrook Regional) notched 14 points for the Raptors, while senior guard Alex Koutras (Washington Township, NJ/Washington Township) added 10.
Sophomore guard Loretta Kelly (Wildwood Crest, NJ/Wildwood) and junior forward Ossierra Monroe (Camden, NJ/Woodrow Wilson) both added eight points for the Scarlet Raptors.
Turner and Luongo led the Raptors' balanced efforts off the boards, grabbing five rebounds apiece.
In addition to Weber, the Highlanders received 17 points from senior forward Hannah McCardle (Lewisberry, PA/Red Land) and 14 from freshman guard Amie Eppolito (Levittown, PA/Pennsbury).
Rutgers-Camden returns to action Tuesday when it plays a New Jersey Athletic Conference game at 6 p.m. at sister school Rutgers-Newark.