STOCKTON WINS ECAC METRO CHAMPIONSHIP, 83-52

Boxscore

Third-seeded Richard Stockton (18-12) pounded top seed Rutgers-Newark (20-9) 83-52 to win the program’s second ECAC championship and finish the season on a high note.

Senior LaTonya Oliver (West Berlin/Overbrook) was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player after totaling game highs of 20 points, 18 rebounds and six blocks in her final game in a Stockton uniform.

Brittany Muniz (Cherry Hill/CH East) tossed in 14 points and Che’Na Thompson (Salem/ Salem) contributed 13 markers. Lauren Alwan (Winslow/Timber Creek) filled the stat sheet with 10 points, 10 rebounds and six assists while senior Aliyah Nelson (Pleasantville/St. Joseph) dished a career-high seven assists in her last college game. Stockton shot 58.1% from the field in the contest.

Stockton controlled the game right from the opening tip and the outcome was hardly ever in doubt. The Ospreys raced out to an 18-0 lead as Oliver and Alwan scored six points apiece while Rutgers-Newark went scoreless for the first 5:26 of the game.

Oliver led Stockton to a 40-25 halftime lead with a double-double of 10 points and 12 rebounds before the break. The Ospreys shot 56.3% from the field in the first half.

The onslaught continued in the second half as Stockton improved to 60% from the field. After Thompson sank consecutive baskets, the margin reached 30 points at 71-41 with 6:47 to play. Stockton’s largest lead was 37 when Oliver hit a layup for a 79-42 score at the 3:05 mark and the Ospreys cruised to the ECAC Metro title with the 83-52 triumph.