New Jersey City University Athletics

 

JERSEY CITY, NJ…Sophomore center Alison Beller (Morris Plains, NJ/Morristown) sank a lay-up with 6.7 seconds remaining to counter back-to-back three-pointers by sophomore forward ARNESE GOODMAN (Jersey City, NJ/Lincoln), as Ramapo College survived for a thrilling 67-66 victory over New Jersey City University in a New Jersey Athletic Conference women’s basketball game at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center on Saturday night.

NJCU falls to 3-4 overall and 1-4 in the NJAC with its second straight loss, while Ramapo, winners of six straight in the series, improves to 4-4 and 2-3 NJAC.

              

The loss spoiled a tremendous double-double effort by junior point guard LATRESE McNAIR (Elizabeth, NJ/Elizabeth), who tallied 12 points, a career-high 11 assists and seven steals with only three turnovers in 39 minutes.

 

Freshman guard Khiada Evans (Newark, NJ/Shabazz) scored a game-high 16 points for the visitors, including 10-of-13 from the line, and added seven assists. Beller finished with 13 on 5-of-7 shooting.

              

Goodman, who did not score in the first half, collected all 12 of her points in the second period, and added eight rebounds and six assists. Senior forward MEGAN KABBA (Newark, NJ/Arts) rang up 14 points (7-13 FG) and five boards.

              

Also for NJCU, freshman guard ANDREA YUDIN (Guilford, VT/Brattleboro Union, VT) chipped in eight points, while sophomore center TIFFANY BOYD (Jersey City, NJ/Lincoln) registered seven rebounds, six points and three blocks.

              

In all, four players scored in double figures for the Roadrunners. Junior forward Tiffany China (West Orange, NJ/West Orange) hit for 11 points and grabbed nine rebounds, and sophomore guard Natasha Gross (Glen Rock, NJ/Glen Rock) chipped in 10 points (3-7 FG) and seven rebounds. Junior guard Keona Palmer (Port Reading, NJ/Woodbridge) collected nine rebounds and eight points.

NJCU led for most of the first period, and pulled in front by 11 on two occasions, including 26-15 after sophomore guard ELIZABETH AMADEO (Bayonne, NJ/Marist) hit a three at 9:12. However, the Gothic Knights only scored one more field goal in the final 9:12 of action, and went scoreless in the final 5:55 of the half, as Ramapo notched a 32-28 lead at the break by finishing the period on a 17-2 scoring streak. Evans hit two free throws to give RCNJ the lead, and added a late lay-up to put the Roadrunners in front, 31-28.

              

The Gothic Knights opened the second half on an 8-1 spurt and gained a 36-33 margin. After Ramapo tied the contest at 16:18, it built a seven-point, 47-40 lead, and was in front for the next 7:40, until Amadeo hit another three to even the game at 49-49.

              

ARNESE GOODMAN" src="/images/wbasket/2005/12/10/11-30-05%20Arnese%20Goodman%203.jpg" width=150 align=left border=0>After two more ties, the Knights went ahead 55-53 on a Goodman lay-up at 6:23, and extended that advantage to five, as Yudin drilled a jumper. A Gross three shaved the score to 60-59 at 4:20, and she followed with another three at 2:38, to put the Roadrunners in front, 62-60. RCNJ increased the lead to 65-60 with 1:00 remaining, as China hit a jumper and Beller sank a free throw.

              

Goodman buried a three with 51 seconds left to trim the RCNJ margin to 65-62, and followed 13 seconds later with another trey, as NJCU rallied to take a 66-65 advantage with 38 seconds on the clock.

After a pair of timeouts, Beller received a pass down low and hit a spinning lay-up to provide the go-ahead and winning points at 6.7.  Kabba had a chance to win the game from the right corner in the final seconds but could not convert.

The two clubs shot nearly identical percentages from the field, as RCNJ made 40.4 percent (21-52) and NJCU finished at 40.3% (29-72). RCNJ committed 26 turnovers, which the Knights translated into a 24-7 margin in points off miscues.

              

Ramapo owned a 44-38 margin in rebounding, and made more free throws (20-32, 62.5%) than the Knights had attempts (3-8, 37.5%).

 

NJCU returns to action on Thursday, December 15 with a home, non-conference tilt against Farmingdale State University at 6 p.m. RCNJ doesn’t play again until January 4, 2006 against The College of New Jersey.