Mahwah, NJ: The Ramapo College women's basketball team dropped a tough, 56-81 decision today to the Profs of Rowan University in their 2014-2015 NJAC Season opener at the Bradley Center.  The Roadrunners get their first loss of the season, falling to 3-1 overall and 0-1 in the conference, while Rowan remains undefeated grabbing their fourth straight win (4-0), and their first win in conference play (1-0).
 
Four Profs scored in double-digit figures as Valerie Garofalo led the way with 12, shooting 3-6 from the field, including 4-6 from the free throw line.  Anyssa Sanchez, Bria Hill, and Kaitlin Schullstrom each collected 11 points as the team combined shooting 28-70 (40%) from the field. Sanchez and Jade Bonder each dished out three assists and Sanchez walked away with a team high five steals.  Kyanna Filmore led the team pulling down nine boards.

The Profs scored the first basket of the game with 19:10 on the clock, a basket by Hill, before Kellie Lane scored back-to-back baskets for the Roadrunners to take a two point lead, 4-2, with 17:55 on the clock. Rowan went on a mini 5-0 run to take a three-point lead, before Jackie Jerkovich drained a three-pointer at 15:52, to put the Roadrunners ahead by four, 11-7. With the Roadrunners up 15-11 (13:01), the Profs' offensive took control sparking a 20-2 run, which included three three-pointers. The run was capped off with a layup from Garofalo to put the Profs in the lead, 31-17, with 9:56 left to play in the half.  In the final nine minutes of the half, Rowan outscored Ramapo 15-5, as the Profs took a 46-22 lead heading into the locker room.   The Profs knocked down six three-pointers in the first half.  Schullstrom led the team with 11 points, including three three-pointers, while Sanchez and Garofalo each scored eight points. Rowan out rebounded the Roadrunners 24-20, and shot 44% (19-43) from the field, 37% (6-16) from beyond the three-point line and 40% (2-5) from the foul line.
 
Rowan spent the first nine and a half minutes of the second period climbing to their biggest lead of the game, 31.  Three straight free throws, two from Garofalo and one from Summer Crilley, would put the Profs ahead, 64-33.  The closest Ramapo would come in the final minutes was 23, when an and-one play from Alyson Oostdyk, with 23 seconds left in the game, fell through the basket to close the gap, 56-79.  The Profs would score the final two points of the game to take home the 81-56 NJAC win.
 
Hill would lead the Profs in the second half with five points as the team went 9-27 (33%).  Ramapo's Raven Jones led the team with eight points and Kellie Lane collected six, as the Roadrunners dropped 11 field goals on 31 attempts shooting 36% in the final half of play. 
 
Lane led the Roadrunners with 13 points on the day and Jerkovich added nine, as Ramapo shot a combined 21-59 (36%).  Jerkovich dished out five assists and Bintou Berete pulled down a team leading seven rebounds.

The Roadrunners return to action on Tuesday, November 25th when they take on NJAC rival William Paterson University at 5:30pm at the Bradley Center.