WATERFORD, Conn. (October 15, 2011) – The Rutgers women's cross country team won the Connecticut College Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 15. The Scarlet Knights collected 48 points to place first in a field of 17 teams.

"It was great to get a win today," said head coach James Robinson. "We were very pleased with their effort. They embraced the challenge of bettering their performance from last week and competing over the 6k race distance for the first time this season. The win provides us momentum as we prepare for the BIG EAST Cross Country Championship."

Sophomore Briana Deming (Webster, N.Y.) followed up her first-place performance at the Metropolitan Championship last weekend, finishing second overall to once again pace the Scarlet Knights. Deming ran a time of 22:06, while junior Angelica Brinkofski (Somerset, N.J.) also placed in the top-5 as she took fourth in a time of 22:24.

The Scarlet Knights had a total of six runners finish in the top-20 overall. Freshman Allison Payenski (Whitehouse Station, N.J.) was the third RU runner to complete the course, finishing 11th in a time of 22:51. Junior Victoria Pontecorvo (Staten Island, N.Y.) and sophomore Ashley Deckert (Newfield, N.J.) added to the team performance as they placed 15th and 16th, respectively. Pontecorvo finished the 6K race in a time of 22:58, followed by Deckert in 23:03.

Rutgers will return to action on Saturday, Oct. 29, for the BIG EAST Championship.

Rutgers Results

2. Brianna Deming                               22:06

4. Anjelica Brinkofski                          22:24

11. Allison Payenski                             22:51

15. Victoria Pontecorvo                     22:58

16. Ashley Deckert                              23:03

20. Rashmi Singh                                  23:16

29. Kelly Flannigan                               23:28

53. Felicia O'Donnell                            24:09

Overall Team Results

1.    48  Rutgers

2.    56  Plattsburgh St.

3.    64  Tufts              

 4.   111  TCNJ             

 5.   140  Oneonta      

 6.   146  St. Thomas (Minn.)

7.   222  New Paltz St.        

 8.   242  Coast Guard

 9.   275  So. Conn. St.   

10.   320  Trinity             

11.   325  Conn College   

11.   325  Salve Regina    

13.   332  UMass Dartmouth

14.   360  Bridgewater St.     

15.   473  Assumption            

16.   528  Mitchell           

17.   556  Caldwell