New Jersey City University Athletics

 

GLASSBORO, NJ…Sophomore forward ARNESE GOODMAN (Jersey City, NJ/Lincoln) led all scorers with 22 points, and sophomore center TIFFANY BOYD (Jersey City, NJ/Lincoln) came off the bench to provide 12 points, eight rebounds, and four blocks, as New Jersey City University ended a 27-game losing streak to Rowan University, and defeated the Profs for the first time since 1990, with a 73-69 decision Friday night in a New Jersey Athletic Conference women’s basketball game at Esby Gymnasium. NJCU stuffed 10 blocks in the game, and never trailed in the second half, leading by as many as 13.

 

The victory for NJCU (3-2, 1-2 NJAC) was its first over Rowan (2-3, 1-2 NJAC) since a 49-47 win in Jersey City on January 13, 1990. Meanwhile, it marked only the second time in school history NJCU has defeated the Rowan women in Glassboro. NJCU’s last road victory over the Profs was a 64-62 triumph on January 13, 1989.

 

Goodman, who scored 15 points in the first half, finished with 22 points on 9-of-16, with six rebounds and three assists in 37 minutes. Boyd came off the bench to drop 12 points on 5-of-9, with eight TIFFANY BOYD" src="/images/wbasket/2005/12/3/02-07-2005%20Tiffany%20Boyd%208.jpg" width=150 align=left border=0>rebounds, four blocks, and four steals in 22 minutes. What is not reflected in her stat line is how Boyd completely disrupted Rowan’s offense, knocking many passes out of play to break up easy lay-ups.

 

Senior power forward MEGAN KABBA (Newark, NJ/Arts) collected her fifth career double-double, finishing with 11 points (4-7 FG), a game-high 12 rebounds, and two blocks. Junior point guard

LATRESE McNAIR (Elizabeth, NJ/Elizabeth) tallied 14 points (5-13 FG), seven assists, five rebounds and three steals in 39 minutes, despite 10 turnovers.

 

Rowan received 14 points (6-10 FG) and eight rebounds from junior forward Lauren Byrne (Paulsboro, NJ/Gloucester Catholic), while freshman forward Ashley Cieplicki (Haworth, NJ/Dumont) added 12 points (6-11 FG) off the bench.

 

Freshman forward Kaitlin Guy (Fair Lawn, NJ/Fair Lawn) scored 10 points and added five boards, while sophomore guard Nicole Perrini (Parsippany, NJ/Parsippany Hills) chipped in 10 points. Senior guard Sheemea Carr (Glassboro, NJ/Glassboro) finished with eight points, seven steals, and six assists, and hit 2-of-4 threes, but was only 3-of-12 from the field.

              

NJCU surprised Rowan in the first half, and led by 10 at the break, 43-33, after shooting 62.1 percent in the opening period (18-29). Rowan led for only two possessions of the half, which remained close until NJCU built a 26-19 lead at 8:48 off a Goodman jumper. Rowan reeled off an 8-0 run to grab its final lead of the game, 27-26 at 6:24, with a Cieplicki lay-up. NJCU regained the lead, and up 36-32 with 3:22 on the clock, scored seven straight points, highlighted by a Goodman trey, to pull ahead by 11, 43-32.

              

NJCU controlled most of the second half, leading by between six and 12 points for the first 15 minutes of the period. The Knights gained their first 13-point lead, 68-55, at 4:48 when Goodman drilled a three, and again led by 13, 70-57, with 4:09 left, after a jumper by sophomore guard NATASHIA CLACKLEY (Long Branch, NJ/Long Branch).

              

Rowan rallied over the ensuing 3:18, using a 12-1 run to shave the Gothic Knight lead to two, 71-69, MEGAN KABBA" src="/images/wbasket/2005/12/3/11-20-04%20Megan%20Kabba%209.jpg" width=150 align=left border=0>after Carr sank a three with 51 seconds remaining. Perrini scored seven of the 12 during the streak, and added an assist on another fast-break basket, as NJCU committed five turnovers in that span.

              

Rowan had a chance to tie it after a sixth NJCU turnover, but Perrini was whistled for an offensive foul, and Kabba put the game away with a lay-up with six seconds remaining.

              

NJCU finished shooting 47.5 percent from the field (29-61) despite making just 11-of-32 in the second half (34.4%). Overall, NJCU scored 53 of its 73 points from the perimeter. The Knights struggled from the line (13-24, 54.2%). Rowan shot 12-of-31 in each half, and finished shooting just 38.7 percent overall and 4-of-11 from three-point range (36.4%). The Profs made 17-of-29 at the line (58.6%).

 

NJCU returns to action on Wednesday, December 7 at 6 p.m. when it hosts Richard Stockton College in a New Jersey Athletic Conference game at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center.