New Jersey City University Athletics

 

MAHWAH, NJ…Despite losing a 16-point lead in the second half and falling behind by six in overtime, a resilient New Jersey City University women’s basketball team scored the final 10 points of the extra session and overcame Ramapo College, 54-50, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference women’s basketball game at the Bill Bradley Center.

 

NJCU had followed each of its last five victories with a loss dating back to November 19, but saw that streak come to an end as the Gothic Knights improve to 8-7 overall and 4-6 in the NJAC. The Knights have won three of its last four. Ramapo (6-10, 2-8 NJAC) has lost two straight and five of its last six.

 

Junior point guard LATRESE McNAIR (Elizabeth, NJ/Elizabeth) continued to highlight NJCU’s recent success, as she scored a game-high 17 points (7-19 FG) and swiped 10 steals, with eight rebounds. It was the third time in six games she has reached double figures in steals, including twice on the road. She played every second of the 45-minute contest.

 

Sophomore forward ARNESE GOODMAN (Jersey City, NJ/Lincoln) saved her best for last, scoring all five of her points in the overtime period, adding nine rebounds and three assists. Freshman center TRISHA SANON (Jersey City, NJ/Hudson County Prep) had the best game of her young career, contributing eight points and four rebounds in 12 reserve minutes, while sophomore center TIFFANY BOYD (Jersey City, NJ/Lincoln) collected seven points (3-6 FG), five rebounds and four blocks off the bench. Freshman center KELLY WILSON (Jersey City, NJ/Hudson County Prep) grabbed eight caroms.

 

NJCU shot .667 in overtime and made almost as many field goals (4-6) in overtime as it did in the entire second half (6-28, 21.4%).

 

For RCNJ, junior guard Kelly Bartz (Madison, NJ/Madison) matched McNair with 17 points (6-13 FG), including 4-of-8 from three-point range, and added eight rebounds (seven defensive) and seven steals while also playing a full 45 minutes.

 

Junior forward Keona Palmer (Port Reading, NJ/Woodbridge) had a game-best 11 rebounds (eight defensive), but shot 1-of-8 from the field. Sophomore guard Natasha Gross (Glen Rock, NJ/Glen Rock) tallied eight points, six rebounds and four steals and junior forward Tiffany China (West Orange, NJ/West Orange) finished with seven points, eight rebounds, and three steals.

 

RCNJ raced out to an 11-2 lead at 11:24 of the first half before the Knights unleashed a 12-0 run over the next 5:32. NJCU extended the streak to 20-3, as Sanon finished a layup at 3:10, to give NJCU a 22-14 lead. NJCU went to the half ahead by 10, 26-16, as the Knights’ defense held the Roadrunners to 6-of-26 percent shooting in the opening period (.231) and only five points in the final 11:24 of the half.

 

The Knights built their lead to 16, 32-16, at the 17:50 mark of the second period. A 10-2 run over the next 5:52 allowed RCNJ to mount a comeback, as the Roadrunners pulled within eight, 34-26, on a Bartz three at 11:52. Bartz collected eight of Ramapo’s 10 points during the tear.

 

NJCU continued to lead by multiple possessions throughout most of the second half, before a layup by sophomore center Alison Beller (Morris Plains, NJ/Morristown) at 3:23 closed the gap to 42-39, and two free throws from Palmer made it 42-41 with 2:27 remaining. China had a chance to win the game for Ramapo with 11 seconds remaining, and despite missing her second free throw attempt, tied it at 42-42 on her first try, forcing overtime. Leading 42-34 with 5:23 left in the half, NJCU did not score again the remainder of the stanza, and the Knights did not convert a field goal in the final 6:37 of the period.

 

Things looked grim for NJCU as Bartz and freshman guard Erica Maclin (Teaneck, NJ/Teaneck) knocked down consecutive three-pointers within 22 seconds of each other, to give RCNJ a 48-44 lead at 3:58 of the extra period. However, Ramapo would not make another field goal on Saturday, shooting 2-of-7 in the overtime.

 

LATRESE MCNAIR" src="/images/wbasket/2006/1/21/11-30-05%20Latrese%20McNair%205.jpg" width=150 align=left border=0>After Beller converted two free throws at 3:43 of the overtime, RCNJ led 50-44, but would not score again. Goodman sank a jumper and added a free throw for a three-point play, and McNair hit one freebie to make it 50-48 at 2:25. After Palmer swiped a pass from NJCU with 1:42 remaining, she drove to the basket on the left baseline, only to have her shot swatted away by Boyd. McNair took advantage, scooping up the rebound. She used a nifty move to fake out two RCNJ defenders and tied the game at 50-50 with a layup at 1:21.

 

After RCNJ missed two three pointers in the final 1:02, Goodman scored what proved to be the winning bucket when she came up with her own rebound on a missed layup at 41 seconds, and followed with the winner at 0:36.  Sophomore shooting guard ELIZABETH AMADEO (Bayonne, NJ/Marist) sealed it with 15 seconds remaining when she sank two freebies.

               

NJCU, which had a 23-10 edge in bench scoring, finished shooting .367 (22-60), after a .462 first half (12-26). The Knights struggled from three-point range (2-16, .125) and the line (8-21, .381), and committed 32 turnovers. RCNJ shot .294 for the game (15-51) and also struggled from the stripe (.484, 15-31) and gave away 34 turnovers. NJCU had a slight rebounding edge, 45-44.

               

NJCU returns to action on Wednesday, January 25 at 5:30 p.m. with an NJAC game at Rutgers-Newark.