NEWARK, N.J. – The William Paterson women's basketball team (3-5, 1-3 NJAC) dropped a 70-60 decision at Rutgers-Newark (4-3, 2-1 NJAC) Dec. 7.

Scarlet Raider junior guard Courtney Woodard started and finished an 8-0 run with layups around a layup by senior guard ShaQuanna Marshall and an inside basket by freshman center Jasmine Lombard, giving Rutgers-Newark its biggest lead of the game at 55-41 with 10:12 remaining.

The Pioneers responded with a 13-4 spurt keyed by sophomore guard Brittany Harden (Millville, N.J./Sacred Heart) with five points.  Senior guard Floriana Borova (Cresskill, N.J./Cresskill) dropped in a pair of free throws to trim the Raiders' lead to 58-54 with 5:23 left.

WP sliced the deficit to four points twice more on a layups by Borova with 3:16 left and junior center Ashley Marfo (Bergenfield, N.J./Bergenfield) with 2:31 remaining to make it 64-60.  But, the Pioneers would not get another point as junior forward Jade Howard connected on a layup from Woodard and Marshall went 4-for-4 from the free-throw line during the final 42 seconds to provide the final margin.

Rutgers-Newark led by seven points three times in the first half, but the balanced Pioneers refused to let the home team break away.  A pair of Marshall free throws gave the Raiders a 36-32 lead at the half.

Marshall added 15 points, four assists and a game-high five steals for Rutgers-Newark, while Woodard came up with nine points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals off the bench.  Sophomore guard Adrianna Williams dished out a team-high five assists with eight points, five rebounds and a pair of steals. Senior forward Jasmine Daniels posted seven points, five rebounds and four assists.

Harden netted 10 of her team-high 18 points in the second half and finished with six rebounds.  Borova totaled 13 points, seven rebounds and three assists, while senior forward Dana Jeter (Hamilton, N.J./Steinert) and Marfo tallied nine points and seven rebounds apiece.  Jeter dished out a game-high six assists while adding three steals and two blocks.

William Paterson will host Rowan Wednesday, Dec. 11, at 8:00 p.m.

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