New Jersey City University Athletics

 

JERSEY CITY, NJ…New York University, the #15 ranked team in the nation, used a 15-3 second half run to widen a three-point contest, as the Violets remained unbeaten with a 56-44 victory over New Jersey City University in a non-conference game on Monday at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center.

 

NYU (7-0), ranked 15^th in the latest USA Today/ESPN Division III Poll, has won seven consecutive games dating to last year, while the Gothic Knights (2-6) lose their fourth straight outing—all to teams with a combined record of 23-4.

 

The Violets entered the contest outscoring its first six opponents this season by 32.2 points per game, and had a +20.8 rebounding margin, but were challenged all night, owning margins of only 12 over NJCU in both scoring and rebounding (46-34).

 

It was the first meeting between the schools since December 30, 1999; NYU leads the all-time series 5-2.

 

For NYU, sophomore forward Jessica McEntee (Flushing, NY/Archbishop Molloy) finished with a near triple-double of 12 points (4-8), 12 rebounds, and seven assists, and senior center Karen Bachman (Avon, CT/Avon) had a game-high 14 rebounds (11 defensive), with nine points, three assists, three

blocks and three steals.

 

Sophomore guard Gena Brown (Philadelphia, PA/Central) and senior guard Stephanie Ryba (New Britain, CT/New Britain) each had nine points, with Ryba chipping in three b locks. Freshman guard Jen Hum-Traverso (San Rafael, CA/Convent of the Sacred Heart) made her first career start for the Violets, scoring nine. Junior guard Chelsea Trout (Thurmont, MD/Walkersville) finished with eight points.

 

For NJCU, senior point guard LATRESE McNAIR (Elizabeth, NJ/Elizabeth) had a team-high 11 points, to increase her career total to 940 points, as she hit 3-of-8 three-pointers. She added six rebounds, four steals and four assists while playing a full 40 minutes. Now with 390 career steals, she climbed into 21^st place in Division III history in swipes, after starting the day 24^th.

 

Also for NJCU, junior forward ARNESE GOODMAN (Jersey City, NJ/Lincoln) contributed 10 points (5-13 FG), nine rebounds (seven defensive) and three steals, while junior forward TIFFANY BOYD (Jersey City, NJ/Lincoln) collected eight points, eight rebounds, and three blocks. Sophomore guard ANDRE YUDIN (Guilford, VT/Brattleboro Union (VT)) came off the bench to register eight points (3-6 FG) in 16 minutes.

 

NYU had entered the game dominating opponents in the first half, 243-124, but held just an eight-point half-time margin, 33-25. Early on, the trend of NYU exploiting opponents with big first periods held true, as the Violets pulled in front 6-0, 11-2 and 21-7.

 

However, a 13-2 run by the Knights made it a 23-20 game with 5:01 left, capped by two Goodman jumpers. She had six points during the spurt and Yudin added five. A three by McNair at 2:11 made it 29-25 before NYU held the 33-25 half-time cushion.

 

NJCU scored the first five points of the second half, including a three by Yudin to again shave the deficit to three, 33-30 at 19:17. But in a second half where each team went cold from the field for long stretches, neither team could convert a shot for a period of 5:15.

 

Over a span of 12:02, NJCU could only convert 1-of-15 from the field, and NYU, which struggled itself during this period, made 7-of-10 from the line, sparking a 15-3 run that put the Violets in front 48-33 at 7:15. It was the Violets’ largest lead of the game, and NJCU could not come closer than 10 down the stretch. NJCU also committed eight turnovers during the dry spell, but was aided by nine NYU giveaways. Hum-Traverso and Trout each had five points during the streak.

 

NYU shot 37.0 percent overall (20-54) and just 9.1 percent from three-point range (1-11), but made 15-of-22 free throws (68.2%) and outscored the Knights in the paint, 36-16. NYU also owned a 16-6 edge in fast-break scoring. NJCU shot 28.8 percent overall (17-59), 5-of-14 from long range (35.7%) and 5-of-6 from the line.

 

NJCU will return to action Wednesday, December 13 at 7 p.m. when it hosts Lehman College in a non-conference game. NYU next plays on Saturday, December 16 when it hosts Mount Saint Mary College at 2 p.m. in New York, NY in a non-conference tilt.