New Jersey City University Athletics

 

WEST HEMPSTEAD, NY…Junior forward TIFFANY BOYD (Jersey City, NJ/Lincoln) collected a double-double with team highs of 14 points, 14 rebounds and six blocks, and became the all-time leader in blocked shots in the 36-year history of the New Jersey City University women’s basketball program, as the Gothic Knights routed Briarcliffe College, 70-34, in a non-conference game played at the Island Garden Basketball Center. The 36-point margin of victory marked the 49^th time in program history NJCU has won by 30 or more.

 

NJCU (2-2) snapped a two-game losing streak in decisive fashion, turning a 30-20 halftime margin into a rout, by outscoring the Seahawks (4-2), 40-14 in the second half, in the first-ever meeting between the schools in women’s basketball.

 

NJCU’s pressure defense forced 27 Seahawk turnovers, including 15 in the second half, and the Knights committed just 12 in the entire contest. NJCU picked off 21 steals, and converted them into a 29-2 margin in points off turnovers. The Knights also had margins of 20-0 in fast-break scoring, 42-12 in points in the paint, 23-4 in bench scoring and 22-10 in second chances. NJCU rejected 13 blocks as a team.

 

Boyd, who entered the game tied for first all-time in blocks (117) with Alexis Nelson (1995-98), now has 123 in her career. She hit 7-of-11 field goals for the 14 points, and had eight of her 14 boards on the offensive glass.

 

LATRESE MCNAIR" src="/images/wbasket/2006/11/29/11-18-06%20Latrese%20McNair%204.jpg" width=150 align=left border=0>Senior point guard LATRESE McNAIR (Elizabeth, NJ/Elizabeth) had 14 points, six steals, four assists, four rebounds, and tied her career high with four blocks. Sophomore center KELLY WILSON (Jersey City, NJ/Hudson County Prep) scored 10 points (4-7 FG), seven rebounds (five offensive) and five steals in 23 minutes. Freshman guard JASMINE GADSDEN (Orange, NJ/Orange) posted career highs of 10 points (4-5 FG) and six rebounds in 18 minutes.

 

Overall, four players reached double figures, while all 10 players who suited up for the game scored at least two points. Also for NJCU, freshman guard CAROLINA GARCIA (Franklin Park, NJ/Franklin) had eight points, five rebounds and four assists, while freshman guard JERICA HAYES (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) contributed seven points and four assists. Freshman guard MICHELLE VASQUEZ (Harrison, NJ/Harrison) had another solid defensive effort, with four steals in 10 reserve minutes.

 

Briarcliffe center Chequita Robertson had half the team’s points with a game-high 17 on 6-of-15 shooting,  She hit 4-of-8 from three-point range, and had a team-high seven rebounds,

 

NJCU, which shot 40.8 percent overall, including 48.5 percent in the second period (16-33), jumped out to leads of 8-2 and 16-6, and never trailed. The Knights held a 30-20 lead at the break.

 

NJCU put the game away early in the second period with a 16-3 run to seize a dominant 46-23, 23-point margin with 12:37 remaining. The final 36-point margin was NJCU’s largest lead of the night.

 

The Knights out-rebounded the Seahawks, 51-39. Briarcliffe shot 24.1 percent overall and just 18.5 percent (5-27) in the second period.

 

NJCU will return to action on Saturday, December 2 at 1 p.m. when it visits defending New Jersey Athletic Conference champion The College of New Jersey in a conference game in Ewing, NJ.