ASHLAND, Va. - Rutgers-Newark used a big run to start the second half on its way to a 75-57 victory over Shenandoah University in the opening round of the Randolph-Macon Tip-Off Tournament Friday night in the women's basketball season opener for both schools.

Rutgers-Newark (1-0) scored eight of the initial 10 points of the second half to pull away from Shenandoah (0-1).

The Hornets had cut their deficit to six points, 38-32, thanks to an Imani Heggins layup with 48 seconds remaining in the opening stanza.

The Scarlet Knights then came out of the halftime break on fire, hitting a layup at 19:32 before getting six consecutive points from Sharee Gordon to extend their lead to 46-34 with 16:59 remaining.

Only a Holly Chittenden layup at 19:21 broke up this opening run.

This spurt eventually extended itself to 20-7 before senior Crystal Petrus drained a 3-pointer with 10:59 left.

Mary Severin backed up Petrus' 3-ball with a jumper at 10:14, but SU would get no closer than 17-points the rest of the way.

Trailing 73-49 with 2:41 remaining, Shenandoah scored eight of the game's final 12 points to provide the final margin of victory.

Chittenden led the Hornets with 18 points, she was 10 of 10 from the line, while Heggins added 13 and Severin 12.

Shenandoah shot 38 percent from the field.

SU completes play in the tournament with a 6:30 game Saturday night against No. 3/6 Christopher Newport.

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