CAMDEN, N.J. – The Rutgers University-Camden women's basketball team went on a 23-point run early in the first half, turning a 5-2 deficit into a 25-5 lead, and went on to defeat St. Joseph's College-Long Island, 69-42, in a non-conference game here Saturday afternoon.

Rutgers-Camden improves to 3-7 with its second straight win. St. Joseph's falls to 2-8 with its fourth straight loss.

St. Joseph's College, based in Patchogue, New York, surrendered the first two points of the game before rattling off the next five to grab a 5-2 lead. The Scarlet Raptors, however, started their run on back-to- back jumpers by junior guard Krystle Cook (Philadelphia, PA/Girard College), taking the lead for good, 6-5, with 2:59 gone in the game. Cook, who had the Raptors' first three field goals of the game, started a 23-point run with her second jumper. Senior center Tanjae Lewis (Magnolia, NJ/Sterling) had nine points in that run on her way to a career-high 21 points, while senior guard Alex Gravinese (Audubon, NJ/Audubon) chipped in with seven of her 19 points during the run.

The Scarlet Raptors held the Golden Eagles scoreless for 9:38 until freshman forward Andrea Iavarone (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place) hit a foul shot with 8:48 remaining in the half to make it a 25-6 game.

By halftime, the Scarlet Raptors held a 39-16 lead, sparked by 13 points from Lewis and nine from Gravinese.

Rutgers-Camden led by as many as 30 points (67-37 and 69-39) in the second half.

With her 21 points, Lewis passed her previous Raptor career high of 20, accomplished against both John Jay College of Criminal Justice (Jan. 20, 2014) and The College of New Jersey (Nov. 25, 2014). She also hiked her career scoring output to 416 points for her combined four years at Rutgers-Camden and Goldey-Beacom College. She added seven rebounds in the game as the Raptors held a 46-32 advantage off the boards.

Gravinese notched 19 points and added three steals, while freshman forward Michelle Obasi (Camden, NJ/Camden Catholic) added 13 points, seven rebounds and a career-high four assists.

Senior guard/forward Irene Grimanis (Brooklawn, NJ/Gloucester) grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds to hike her career total to 519. She is two boards shy of Imani Hafiz (2004-08) for ninth place on the program's all-time list.

Sophomore guard Julia Gober (Turnersville, NJ/Washington Township) chipped in with career highs of five rebounds and two assists, while tying her career high of four points. Freshman forward Cherise Carter (Egg Harbor Township, NJ/Egg Harbor Township), meanwhile, tied her career scoring high with four points.

Rutgers-Camden shot 26-for-55 (47.3 percent) from the floor and held St. Joseph's College to 12-for-57 (21.1) shooting. The Golden Eagles were 4-for-22 from three-point range.

The Golden Eagles received nine points and six assists from junior guard Rynese Smith (Greenpoint, NY/Bellport). Sophomore guard Teddi Petre (Ronkonkoma, NY/Connetquot) notched six points, six rebounds and four assists, while Iavarone had seven points and a team-high seven rebounds.

The Scarlet Raptors return to action Dec. 30 with a 7 p.m. game at Elmira College. The Golden Eagles entertain SUNY-Purchase Jan. 6 at 7 p.m.