Raptor of the Week: Crystal Pezzano

RAPTOR OF THE WEEK
Crystal Pezzano (Brockton, MA/Brockton)

Freshman forward Crystal Pezzano made quite an impact in her third collegiate game last week, scoring a team-high 22 points and adding five rebounds in a 73-67 loss at Richard Stockton College Nov. 22. Pezzano shot 9-for-14 from the floor and 4-for-6 from the foul line against Stockton after scoring eight points in each of her first two collegiate outings. On the early season, Pezzano is second on the Lady Raptors with a 12.7 scoring average.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL (1-2/0-1 NJAC)

November
Tues. 22 Richard Stockton College 73, Rutgers-Camden 67

UPCOMING SCHEDULE:
Mon. 28 at Valley Forge Christian College 6 p.m.
Wed. 30 at Rowan University 6 p.m.

December
Sat. 3 Ramapo College 1 p.m.
Mon. 5 St. Mary’s College 6 p.m.
Wed. 7 at The College of New Jersey 8 p.m.
Sat. 10 at Rutgers University-Newark 5:30 p.m.

The Lady Raptors opened their New Jersey Athletic Conference schedule Nov. 22 in their only game of the week as they dropped a 73-67 decision at Richard Stockton College.

Sophomore guard Lisa Neira collected a career-high 26 points to power the Ospreys’ win. Neira went 10-for-14 from the floor, including 2-for-3 from three-point range. She scored 20 of Stockton’s 43 second-half points as the Ospreys held off the Lady Raptors after taking a 30-22 halftime lead.

Senior forward Krystle Umscheid added 13 points and junior forward Alicia Morris grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds for the Ospreys.

Stockton led for the entire first half despite a first-half high of eight points by the Raptors’ junior guard Jessica Hull (Sicklerville, NJ/Fairton Christian Center and Academy).

The Raptors went on a 13-3 run to open the second half, taking a 35-33 lead on a basket by freshman forward Crystal Pezzano (Brockton, MA/Brockton). Pezzano notched a team-high 22 points, aided by 9-for-14 shooting from the floor.

Stockton responded with eight straight points, including four by sophomore guard Michele Auerebacher to take the lead for good, 41-35. Neira scored 20 points over the final 12 minutes to help the Ospreys hold off the Raptors.

In addition to Pezzano, senior center Megan Rulon (Sewell, NJ/Clearview Regional) added 14 points, nine rebounds and a game-high four blocked shots for Rutgers-Camden.

MEN’S BASKETBALL (0-3/0-1 NJAC)

November
Tues. 22* Richard Stockton College 85, Rutgers-Camden 71

UPCOMING SCHEDULE:
Mon. 28 at Valley Forge Christian College 8 p.m.
Wed. 30 at Rowan University 8 p.m.

December
Sat. 3 Ramapo College 3 p.m.
Wed. 7 at The College of New Jersey 6 p.m.
Sat. 10 at Rutgers University-Newark 7:30 p.m.
Tues. 13 at SUNY-Farmingdale 7 p.m.

Senior forward Tobias Smith went 10-for-14 from the floor and scored a game-high 27 points to power Richard Stockton College over Rutgers-Camden, 86-40, in the New Jersey Athletic Conference opener for both schools Nov. 22 in Pomona. It was the Ospreys’ 42nd consecutive win over Rutgers-Camden since 1984.

Senior forward Miguel Rodriguez added 10 points and a game-high eight rebounds for Stockton, which placed 13 players in the scoring column.

Stockton opened up a 44-22 halftime lead and ended up shooting 48.5 percent from the floor (33-for-68), while Rutgers-Camden shot 26.8 (15-for-56). The Ospreys held a 47-30 advantage off the boards and forced 27 Scarlet Raptor turnovers.

Junior guard Dane Nicholson (Pleasantville/Holy Spirit) scored 11 points to pace the Raptors, while also tying for the team rebounding lead with four.