The Inauguration of William F. Tate IV,the 22nd President of Rutgers University

William F. Tate IV shared his vision for Rutgers University as an institution driving opportunity for students, New Jersey and the world as he addressed an audience gathered at Ruth Bader Ginsburg Hall at Rutgers-Newark today for his inauguration ceremony.

The 22nd president said Rutgers is committed to investing in opportunity, foremost for its students. He announced The Edge Fund for scholarships to celebrate and support the next generation of thinkers and creators who achieve innovations in the arts, sports, science and technology.

“In an era defined by speed, spectacle and performative acts, we have a moment to demonstrate our commitment to opportunity. It exists in every ZIP code and income bracket in New Jersey. It is limited only by our collective focus and imagination,” Tate said. “When it comes to students, excellence can be found everywhere. Finding it — and letting it flourish — drives our state, our university, our communities forward.”

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This fall, Rutgers University–Camden will continue its Year of the Arts celebration with two events spotlighting internationally acclaimed artists:

Acclaimed artist Reynier Llanes will display his works throughout the fall, with an opening reception featuring the artist on Thursday, September 25th.
Grammy Award-winning jazz titan Arturo Sandoval will perform a free concert at Rutgers–Camden on Saturday, September 27th.

These free events are open to the public. For more information, Click Here

Montclair State Men Over Scarlet Raptors 75-72

CAMDEN CITY, N.J. (Feb. 19, 2020) – The Montclair State University men’s basketball team rallied from an early 19-3 deficit and went on to outlast Rutgers University-Camden, 75-72, in a thrilling New Jersey Athletic Conference game that was the final

contest of the season for both programs.

Despite their comeback win, the Red Hawks missed the six-team NJAC playoffs, finishing one game behind the three-way tie for seeds 4-6 between Rutgers-Newark, New Jersey City and Rowan, a trio of 10-8 teams. Montclair State finished 9-9 in the NJAC and 11-14 overall.

Rutgers-Camden closed its season with a 7-18 record and a 4-14 mark in the NJAC.

Montclair State leads the all-time series, 56-11, and has won 13 of its last 15 games against Rutgers-Camden, although the teams split their season series this year.

After the two teams split the first six points of the game, Rutgers-Camden rattled off 16 unanswered points, including 12 by junior guard

Arian Azemi.

Senior forward

Isaac Destin

added the other four points in the run as the Raptors took a 19-3 lead. By halftime, the Scarlet Raptors held a 48-34 lead, led by 21 points from Azemi and 16 from Destin.

Playing a must-win game, while hoping for outside help to make the playoffs, Montclair State came out with a purpose in the second half. After a layup by Destin gave the Raptors a 50-34 lead, the Red Hawks rattled off 17 straight points, including a pair of foul shots by senior forward/center Eddie Emedoh, to take a 51-50 lead.

The Scarlet Raptors regained the lead on a layup by junior guard

Keysean Simmonds,

setting the stage for a wild final 15 minutes, which featured five lead changes and five ties. With 4:49 remaining, a layup by Azemi gave the Scarlet Raptors their final lead, 66-65. Montclair State took the lead for good moments later on a three-pointer by junior forward Joseph Radi, making it a 68-66 game.

The Red Hawks’ lead fluctuated from 2-5 points the rest of the way. In the final minute, Montclair State held a 75-70 lead before the Raptors’ freshman forward

Dylan Trow

hit a late layup to make it a 75-72 game. After a turnover, the Raptors had one last chance to tie the game in the final 10 seconds, but missed a pair of treys.

Senior forward Jalen Parham finished with 17 points to lead three Red Hawks in double figures. Radi scored 16, and added a team-high nine rebounds, while senior guard Nate Nahirny tallied 14 points.

Azemi scored a game-high 27 points, while Destin finished with his 10th double-double of the season, scoring 26 points and adding 10 rebounds. Azemi also had a game-high six assists, while tying Montclair State junior guard Tim Algenio for game-high honors with four steals.

The Red Hawks shot 29-for-60 from the floor (48.3 percent), while the Raptors were 27-for-52 (51.9). Rutgers-Camden held a 34-32 edge off the boards, but also made two more turnovers (23-21).

Destin’s 26 points helped him edge past Cetshwayo Byrd (1,300 points from 1990-94) and finish in sixth place on the program’s career list with 1,302 points. He also finished fifth in career rebounds (604) and third in blocks (68).

Isaac Destin and Azemi finished 1-2 on the team in scoring with averages of 20.0 and 18.8, respectively. Azemi also set the program’s single-season record for steals with 81.

Big first half sparks MSU women past Raptors in season finale

CAMDEN CITY, N.J. (Feb. 19, 2020) – Freshman guard Nickie Carter scored 22 of her 32 points in the opening half as the Montclair State University women’s basketball team opened up a 20-point halftime lead and the Red Hawks went on to defeat Rutgers

University-Camden, 74-59, in the final regular-season game for both New Jersey Athletic Conference teams here Wednesday night.

Montclair State earned a first-round bye in the NJAC playoffs, which start Saturday, and will take a 20-5 overall record into the conference semifinals next week. The Red Hawks finished their regular season with a 15-3 NJAC record, earning the second seed in the six-team NJAC playoffs.

Rutgers-Camden closed its season at 12-13 overall and 5-13 in the NJAC.

MSU, which heads into the post-season having won 15 of its last 16 games, is 46-17 in its all-time series against the Scarlet Raptors. The Red Hawks have won 26 of their last 28 games against Rutgers-Camden.

Carter was on fire in the first half, shooting 8-for-11 from the floor, including 4-for-5 from three-point range, as her 22 points helped Montclair State take a 49-29 lead at the break. Junior guard Taylor Brown added 11 first-half points for MSU. Freshman guard/forward

Jalissa Pitts

notched 11 points in the first half for Rutgers-Camden, while senior guard

Fatimah Williams

added 10.

Rutgers-Camden opened up an early 13-7 lead, sparked by six points from Williams and five from junior guard

Shane Holmes,

but Montclair State answered with 15 straight points to take the lead for good. That run included 11 points from Brown, including three consecutive three-pointers, the first of which gave the Red Hawks the lead at 14-13. It was their first lead since opening the game with the first five points, and it was the last lead change of the night.

Montclair State led by as many as 26 points (55-29) in the second half.

Carter finished with 12-for-20 shooting from the floor, including 6-for-9 from three-point range, on her way to 32 points. Junior forward Kayla Bush added 15 points and nine rebounds for MSU, while Brown finished with 11 points. Senior guard Cerys MacLelland had game highs of 11 rebounds and four assists, while Bush notched a game-high four steals.

Williams caught fire in the second half to finish with 34 points as she finished her stellar career with 1,240 points, tying Ta-Wanda Preston (1989-92) for sixth place on the program’s career scoring list. She finished the season with 508 points, becoming only the 10th player in program history to score over 500 points in one season. Her 20.3 scoring average for the season was the 10th-highest single-season mark in program history.

Williams also had team-high totals of nine rebounds, two assists, two blocks and three steals.

Pitts finished with 11 points for the Scarlet Raptors, capping her stellar rookie season with an even 11.0 scoring average, second on the team to Williams. Pitts also led the Scarlet Raptors in rebounding during the season with an average of 7.5 per game.

Raptors Eliminated from Playoff Contention by NJCU Women

CAMDEN CITY, N.J. (Feb. 15, 2020) – Entering their New Jersey Athletic Conference showdown here Saturday afternoon, the Rutgers University-Camden women’s basketball team had its playoff hopes on life-support, while New Jersey City University was on the verge of program history.

The Gothic Knights made history, earning their first NJAC playoff berth since 1989. In the process, they eliminated Rutgers-Camden from a post-season berth with a 54-49 victory.

NJCU, which started the day two games ahead of Rutgers-Camden with two remaining in the fight for the final NJAC playoff berth, improved to 11-13 overall. The Gothic Knights are 8-9 in NJAC play with one game remaining before heading into their first conference playoff game in 31 years.

Rutgers-Camden fell to 12-12 overall and 5-12 in the NJAC. The Scarlet Raptors have lost their last three games against the Gothic Knights, although they lead the all-time series, 39-27.

Prior to the game, the Scarlet Raptors celebrated Senior Day, honoring four-year star

Fatimah Williams,

their lone senior. Williams will play her final collegiate game Wednesday when Rutgers-Camden hosts Montclair State University at 6 p.m.

NJCU led for the entire first half, taking a 24-17 lead into halftime. Rutgers-Camden scored the first seven points of the third quarter, tying the game at 24-24 on a three-point field goal by junior guard

Shane Holmes.

Once again, the Gothic Knights took the lead and didn’t relinquish it until a pair of foul shots by Williams gave the Raptors a 36-34 advantage with 1:53 left in the third quarter. Entering the final frame, Rutgers-Camden held a 40-38 advantage.

With the Raptors leading, 42-40, junior guard/forward Dayjah Anderson hit a three-pointer to give NJCU the lead for good. The Gothic Knights built their margin to seven points (54-47) late in the game.

Freshman forward Sarah Edmond and senior guard Aaliyah McCrae both scored 11 points for the Gothic Knights, with Edmond completing an impressive double-double with 18 rebounds. Anderson added nine points and eight rebounds for NJCU, which held a 54-49 advantage off the boards.

Williams collected 20 points to lead the Scarlet Raptors, jumping over the 1,200-point milestone for her career and vaulting into eighth place on the all-time scoring list. She passed both Michelle Obasi (1,193 points from 2014-18) and Brittany Turner (1,195 from 2009-13).

Freshman guard/forward

Jalissa Pitts

added 15 points for the Raptors. Both Pitts and Williams barely missed double-doubles, finishing with nine rebounds apiece.

NJCU shot 13-for-50 (26.0 percent) from the floor and Rutgers-Camden shot 16-for-56 (28.6), but the Gothic Knights went 21-for-35 (60.0) from the foul line, while the Raptors made were 13-for-18 (72.2) and made 21 turnovers.

NJCU Over Rutgers-Camden

CAMDEN City, N.J. (Feb. 15, 2020) – The New Jersey City University men’s basketball team outscored Rutgers University-Camden, 51-28, in the second half to overcome a one-point halftime deficit and went on to defeat the Scarlet Raptors, 90-70, in a New

Jersey Athletic Conference game here Saturday afternoon.

The contest served as Senior Day for four-year Scarlet Raptor letterman

Isaac Destin,

who closes out his stellar career Wednesday night when the Scarlet Raptors host Montclair State University at 8 p.m.

NJCU, which entered the day locked in a three-way battle with Rowan and Montclair State to claim the final two spots in the upcoming conference playoffs, improves to 12-12 overall and 9-8 in the NJAC. The Gothic Knights lead their all-time series against the Scarlet Raptors, 67-5, and have won their last 10 games against Rutgers-Camden.

The Scarlet Raptors fall to 7-17 overall and 5-12 in the NJAC.

In a tight first half that saw 10 lead changes, Rutgers-Camden scored the final field goal on a layup by junior guard

Arian Azemi

to take a 42-41 advantage at the break. Azemi also had a layup to open the second half, making it a 44-41 game, before NJCU scored the next 10 points to grab a 51-46 lead.

NJCU increased its margin to seven points (53-46) before Rutgers-Camden scored 11 of the next 15 points, tying the game at 57-57 on a trey by Azemi. NJCU answered, however, on a trey by senior forward Sam Toney, the Gothic Knights’ two-time NJAC Player of the Year. That shot sparked a six-point run that put NJCU ahead to stay.

NJCU led by as many as 23 points (92-69) near the end of the game.

Toney paced four players in double figures for the Gothic Knights, scoring 24 points and barely missing a double-double by ending with nine rebounds. Junior guard Denzel Banks scored 22 and senior forward Jaimik Moore added 18 points and four assists for NJCU. Junior forward Jahmere Calhoun finished with a double-double of 11 points and a game-high 12 rebounds, while also leading both teams with four steals.

Azemi notched a game-high 31 points for Rutgers-Camden, including 5-for-10 shooting from three-point range. Destin collected his ninth double-double of the year with 23 points and 11 rebounds and sophomore forward

Jake Petrik

nailed four treys on his way to 12 points.

Destin and junior forward

Ian McCarthy

both had four assists for the Raptors, tying NJCU’s Moore for game-high honors.

The Gothic Knights shot 35-for-61 from the floor (57.4 percent), including 9-for-19 (47.4) from three-point range. Rutgers-Camden shot 23-for-52 (44.2) overall, including 10-for-23 (43.5) from beyond the arc.

The Gothic Knights held a 38-26 advantage off the boards.

McWilliams sparks Ramapo past Rutgers-Camden men

MAHWAH, N.J. (Feb. 12, 2020) – The Ramapo College men’s basketball team received 26 points from senior center Rob McWilliams to lead four players in double figures as it pulled away from Rutgers University-Camden, 74-54, in a New Jersey Athletic

Conference game here Wednesday night.

Ramapo improves to 14-9 overall and 10-6 in the NJAC with its 10th straight win over Rutgers-Camden. The Roadrunners lead the all-time series, 53-15.

The Scarlet Raptors fall to 7-16 overall and 5-11 in the NJAC.

In a tight first half, the teams traded several leads and were tied at 24-24 when a three-pointer by McWilliams gave the Roadrunners the lead for good. Ramapo scored 15 of the last 22 points in the half on the way to a 39-31 advantage at the break. McWilliams had 16 points at the break to lead all scorers, while his teammate, senior guard Connor Romano, added 12. Rutgers-Camden received 14 first-half points from senior forward/center

Isaac Destin.

In the second half, the closest Rutgers-Camden came was six points (43-37 and 45-39) as Ramapo led by double digits most of the way. The final 20-point margin was the biggest of the game for the Roadrunners.

McWilliams shot 12-for-21 from the floor on his way to 26 points, while adding nine rebounds. Senior forward Jordan Zagadou added 14 point and four blocks for the Roadrunners, while Roman finished with 12 and sophomore center Jordan Battle added 10. Battle also had five assists to tie the Raptors’ junior guard

Arian Azemi

for game-high honors.

Junior guard Marquise Kindel had a game-high 17 rebounds for Ramapo, which dominated the boards, 45-24.

Destin notched 20 points and six rebounds for the Scarlet Raptors, shooting 9-for-10 from the floor. He also had six rebounds and two blocked shots.

Azemi added 10 points for Rutgers-Camden.

The Raptors shot 20-for-54 (37.0 percent) from the floor, while the Roadrunners went 30-for-59 (50.8).

Rutgers-Camden returns home for a 3 p.m. NJAC game Saturday against New Jersey City University. The Scarlet Raptors will celebrate Senior Day, when they honor Destin, their lone senior.

Third-quarter run lifts Rutgers-Camden women

MAHWAH, N.J (Feb. 12, 2020) – The Rutgers University-Camden women’s basketball team went on a 23-11 run in the third quarter, overcoming a one-point halftime deficit, and went on to defeat Ramapo College, 64-55, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference game here Wednesday night.

The Scarlet Raptors improve to 12-11 overall and 5-11 in the NJAC with their sixth straight win over the Roadrunners. Rutgers-Camden leads the all-time series, 42-22.

Ramapo falls to 9-14 overall and 3-13 in the NJAC with its fifth consecutive defeat.

Ramapo built a 20-17 lead after one quarter and stretched it to 24-17 before the Scarlet Raptors scored 11 of the last 16 points of the half, cutting their deficit to 29-28 at the break. Junior guard

Shane Holmes

scored 11 first-half points for Rutgers-Camden, while Ramapo was paced by 12 points from senior guard Samantha Rinaldi.

After Ramapo freshman guard Bridgett Cahill scored the first field goal of the third quarter, Raptor freshman guard

Taylor Martin

tied the game with a three-pointer. The teams traded leads until the game was tied at 34-34, when Rutgers-Camden took the lead for good on back-to-back three-pointers by senior guard

Fatimah Williams,

making it a 40-34 game.

After Ramapo cut the gap to 40-38, Martin and Holmes canned treys to give Rutgers-Camden a 46-38 lead. By the end of the third quarter, the Scarlet Raptors held a 51-40 lead and Ramapo never came closer than nine points the rest of the way. The Raptors led by as many as 18 points (62-44) late in the final quarter.

Williams finished with a double-double of 24 points and 11 rebounds, while adding three steals. All of those totals were game highs, while she added four assists.

Holmes netter 17 points and added a game-high five assists, while Martin finished with nine points. Freshman center

Kayla Newton

had five points and six rebounds.

Ramapo received 17 points from Rinaldi.

The Roadrunners held a 41-38 edge off the boards and had five fewer turnovers (18-13) than the Scarlet Raptors, but Rutgers-Camden shot 23-for-56 (41.1 percent) from the floor, including 12-for-26 (46.2) from three-point range. Williams and Holmes made four treys apiece, while Martin added three and freshman guard

Najee Seabrook

canned one on her only shot of the game.

Ramapo shot 21-for-61 (34.4) from the floor, including only 4-for-20 (20.0) from three-point range.

Rutgers-Camden returns to NJAC action on Saturday with a Senior Day NJAC home game against New Jersey City University. Prior to the 1 p.m. game, the Scarlet Raptors will honor Williams, their lone senior.

Zuzulock of National Park receives NJAIAW honors as Rutgers-Camden Woman of the Year

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. (Feb. 10, 2020) – Throughout her four years at Rutgers University-Camden,

Sarah Zuzulock (National Park, NJ/Gateway Regional)

has been a standout on the soccer

pitch, a team leader and a stellar student in the classroom. All of those qualities helped Zuzulock earn recognition Sunday when she was cited by the New Jersey Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (NJAIAW) as Rutgers-Camden’s Woman of the Year.

The NJAIAW honored all of its Woman of the Year recipients during the organization’s 28th Annual New Jersey Woman of the Year Awards Luncheon, held at Seton Hall University. The organization hosts the Woman of the Year Luncheon annually in celebration of National Girls and Women in Sports Day, recognizing a student-athlete from all two- and four-year colleges and universities in the state, in addition to all New Jersey high schools. As noted by the NJAIAW in its luncheon program, “Each Woman of the Year recipient has made significant contributions to her institution and community through athletic accomplishments, academic success, and community involvement.”

Zuzulock was a four-year standout in the Rutgers-Camden midfield, playing in all 69 Scarlet Raptor soccer games over her career. She started 67 games and finished her career with seven goals and 12 assists for 26 points. She is tied for 16th on the program’s career list for games played and tied for 13th in assists.

During her junior season in 2018, Zuzulock earned recognition as the team’s Most Valuable Player while helping Rutgers-Camden qualify for both the ECAC and New Jersey Athletic Conference playoffs for the first time since 2007.

A two-time team captain for the soccer program, Zuzulock’s accomplishments in the classroom are equally impressive. A Dean’s List student in the demanding Nursing major, she already has earned a pair of NJAC Academic Honorable Mention awards (freshmen aren’t eligible for the honor). She should add NJAC academic honor in June when the conference cites its top student-athletes for the 2019-20 scholastic year.

Zuzulock has served on Rutgers-Camden’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and has captured a berth on the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll during all seven of her semesters on campus. The Rutgers-Camden Athletic Director’s Honor Roll for the 2020 Spring semester will be announced in late May.

Zuzulock was a multi-sport athlete at Gateway Regional High School, earning 10 varsity letters, including four in soccer. She added three letters in winter track, two in spring track and one in lacrosse. As a sophomore, she helped the Gators capture the Group 1 soccer title and earned All-Conference Second Team recognition. She was an All-Conference First Team honoree during both her junior and senior seasons, while serving as the team captain both years.

Sarah is the daughter of Lynn and Shawn Zuzulock of National Park.

Rutgers-Camden’s Hilt earns second NJAC weekly track & field honor

CAMDEN CITY, N.J. (Feb. 10, 2020) – Rutgers University-Camden track star

Emily Hilt (Mickleton, NJ/Kingsway Regional)

is a threat to break the program shot put record at every meet she competes, and her success rate has been phenomenal so far this season.

For the fourth time in her five meets this winter, Hilt established a new Rutgers-Camden women’s shot put record while competing at Saturday’s Frank Colden Invitational at Ursinus College.

That accomplishment has earned Hilt her the second New Jersey Athletic Conference Women’s Indoor Track recognition this season as the NJAC Field Athlete of the Week. She also won that honor on Dec. 16.

In her latest outing, Hilt produced a shot put of 12.30 meters, beating the mark she established on Jan. 25 of 12.22 meters. That mark also was set at Ursinus College, during the Collegeville Classic.

Hilt came to Rutgers-Camden this year after a stellar two-year career with Rowan College at Gloucester County. A junior academically, she has sophomore eligibility for indoor track and will have junior eligibility in outdoor season.

Hilt set a Rutgers-Camden indoor shot put record during her first meet as a Scarlet Raptor, finishing fourth of 29 performers at the Fastrack Opener Dec. 6 with a distance of 11.58 meters. She also set the program’s weight throw record the same day, placing third of 24 with a throw of 14.43 meters. Both distances were ECAC qualifiers.

At the Seahawk Shootout on Dec. 13, Hilt had another ECAC qualifier in the weight throw, finishing sixth of 23 with a 14.20-meter toss. She also competed in the shot put, finishing 10th of 30 that day (11.00 meters). Ever since then, Hilt has raised her program shot put record in each meet, while recording three more ECAC qualifiers in the event. She finished first of 18 (11.84 meters) in the shot put at the Dutchmen Invite (Jan. 17), was fourth of 47 with her 12.22-meter shot put on Jan. 25 at the Collegeville Classic and finished first of 55 shot putters Saturday at the Frank Colden Invitational with her latest mark of 12.30 meters.

During her career at RCGC, Hilt set the program’s indoor track record in the shot put (13.12 meters) and earned All-American honors in that event. She also competed two seasons with the Roadrunners’ outdoor track program.

Hilt is a Childhood Studies major at Rutgers-Camden who has a double minor in Psychology and Philosophy.