New Jersey City University Athletics

 

JERSEY CITY, NJ…In a second half where the shooting well ran dry for two schools, Montclair State University had slightly more water in their pail, and outlasted New Jersey City University, 43-35, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference women’s basketball game at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center.

               

Montclair, the second place team in the NJAC, improves to 15-7 overall and 12-3 in the league, while the Gothic Knights fall to 10-11 and 5-10. MSU has won the last six straight in the series.

The Knights are in seventh place in the league, and entered Wednesday two games behind William Paterson University for the final NJAC playoff berth with the Pioneers coming to Jersey City this weekend.

 

Only one player reached double figures for each team. Senior forward Amanda Mullaney (Brooklyn, NY/Bishop Ford) led all players with a double-double for the Red Hawks, scoring 13 points (5-7 FG), with 10 rebounds, five blocks, and four steals.

 

For NJCU, freshman center KELLY WILSON (Jersey City, NJ/Hudson County Prep) scored 10 of her 12 points and had six of her nine rebounds in the first half. She shot 4-of-7 from the field and added three assists.

 

Also for MSU, sophomore forward Michelle Madej (Morris Plains, NJ/Parsippany Hills) tallied eight points (2-9) and five rebounds, while sophomore guard Jessica Garrabrant (Denville, NJ/Morris Knolls) had seven points, eight rebounds, and three steals. Junior forward Stephanie Machin (New Providence, NJ/New Providence) chipped in seven points, four assists and three steals.

 

Only four players scored for NJCU and the Knights did not receive points from any bench player. In defeat, sophomore swingman ARNESE GOODMAN (Jersey City, NJ/Lincoln) posted nine points (4-12 FG) and six rebounds, while sophomore center TIFFANY BOYD (Jersey City, NJ/Lincoln) collected eight points.

 

Junior point guard LATRESE McNAIR (Elizabeth, NJ/Elizabeth), this week’s NJAC Player of the Week, and the national leader in steals per game for the second consecutive season, finished with six points and five steals in 38 minutes, connecting on 6-of-8 at the line. However, she did not hit a field goal (0-12) and committed eight turnovers. Sophomore guard NATASHIA CLACKLEY (Long Branch, NJ/Long Branch) dished five of NJCU’s seven assists in 39 minutes.

 

There were four lead changes and six ties in the first half, and the Knights led by as many as five in the period, before Montclair went to the half ahead 24-23, as freshman forward Amy Bonk (Edison, NJ/J.P. Stevens) banked in a jumper with three seconds left in the opening period. MSU would not trail again.

 

In a sloppy second period for both squads, NJCU shot .185 in the half (12-52), with Montclair

converting 6-of-20 (.300). MSU increased its lead to 30-23, and continued a 32-27 edge at 11:38 on a Mullaney jumper. Neither team scored for the next 1:42 and the clubs went 2:14 without a field goal, before Machin chalked up a layup to make it 36-27, as the Knights scored only four points in the first 10:52 of the second half. The Knights later went 3:12 between field goals, before a Wilson bucket at 5:56 made it 36-31. A Goodman layup closed the gap to 36-33 with 4:56 remaining, but MSU outscored the Knights the remainder of the game, 7-2. The Hawks largest lead was 10, 43-23. The Knights missed nine of their final 10 shots.

 

NJCU shot 23.1 percent for the contest (12-52) and 0-for-7 from long range. NJCU made 11-of-14 at the line (.786). The Hawks shot just 29.2 percent (14-48) and 1-of-8 from long range (.125). MSU owned a 48-35 rebounding edge, and won despite committing 28 turnovers.

 

NJCU will play its final home contest of the 2005-06 regular season on Saturday, February 11 at 6 p.m. when the Gothic Knights host William Paterson. It will be senior day at NJCU. MSU will visit first-place Richard Stockton College at 2 p.m. the same day.