CAMDEN, N.J. — Saffiyah Gibson gave the St. Mary’s College of Maryland women’s basketball team a game-high 25 points Wednesday night, and for two quarters it looked as if that might be enough to erase a rough start. Rutgers-Camden had the last run instead, scoring 24 points in the fourth quarter to beat the Seahawks 70-53.
The loss at Rutgers-Camden Gymnasium on Nov. 11 dropped St. Mary’s to 0-2, according to the college’s recap. The Scarlet Raptors improved to 1-1.
Rutgers-Camden led 24-10 after one quarter. St. Mary’s won the second period 14-9, with Gibson scoring around the basket and then hitting a pair of 3-pointers, to get within 33-24 at halftime. A 15-point third quarter, helped by sophomore London Best, pulled the Seahawks within 46-39 heading to the fourth before the home team pulled away.
Gibson, a junior point guard from Fort Washington, shot 9-for-21 from the field and made five free throws in 28 minutes. Sophomore guard India Watkins of Baltimore added 12 points, eight rebounds and four steals. Best, from Arnold, finished with eight points, three rebounds and three steals.
Senior forward Rayna Miller of Westminster had a team-high nine rebounds to go with three blocks and two points. Junior Halimah Hajhassan scored four points in a team-high 35 minutes.
Shooting told the story. St. Mary’s made 28.4% of its field goal attempts and 9.1% of its 3-pointers, while Rutgers-Camden shot 46.7% and 29.6%. The Seahawks did force 21 turnovers, collected 11 steals and scored nine second-chance points.
Team 1 2 3 4 Final St. Mary’s 10 14 15 14 53 Rutgers-Camden 24 9 13 24 70 Team stats St. Mary’s Rutgers-Camden Field goal percentage 28.4% 46.7% 3-point percentage 9.1% 29.6% Free throw percentage 81.3% 85.7% Rebounds 39 44 Turnovers 17 21 Steals 11 6
It was the second straight game in which St. Mary’s stayed within reach into the second half. The Seahawks lost their opener to Marymount, 52-47.
Up next: St. Mary’s plays at Roanoke at 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, in the Jim Beamer Tip-Off Classic.
