New Jersey City University Athletics

Montclair improves to 7-7 overall and 3-1 in the league, while the Knights (3-10, 0-5 NJAC) lose for the eight time in nine outings. MSU, which has never lost at home to NJCU, has won seven straight meetings between the schools, and leads the all-time series, 38-3.  MSU had a 26-2 advantage in bench scoring and scored 23 points off 31 Gothic Knight turnovers.

 

McNair scored 21 of NJCU’s 31 second-half points. She increased her career points total to 1,023, for seventh in school history in scoring, and just three shy of moving into sixth place.

 

McNair joins Monique Hemmingway (1,673, 1984-87, 88-89), Chris Mosca (1,514, 1980-84), Tara Mitchell (1,237, 1993-95, 96-98), Debbie Breen (1,231, 1978-82), Doris Nicholson (1,081, 1986-89), Shondelle Browne (1,025, 1999-03), and Mary Beth Kennedy (1,013, 1974-78), on the 1,000-point list.

 

McNair, who started the day with 992 points before passing Kennedy on the career list, became the first NJCU player in almost four seasons to score 30 in a game, a feat last accomplished by Anabel Rodriguez (34 points) at Stevens Institute of Technology on January 21, 2002.

 

McNair surpassed her previous career high of 25 against Brockport State on November 19. She shot 9-of-17 from the field, 4-of-8 from three-point range, and 9-of-11 from the line, adding seven steals and six rebounds in 36 minutes. She tied her career high in free throws converted. The NCAA Division III national leader in steals increased her career total to 413.

 

She also attempted the 1000^th field goal of her career (1014) and moved into second place in school history in minutes played (2,720), trailing only head coach ASHANTE TIMOLL (2,947) on the career list.

 

On a historic day for McNair, she was NJCU’s only player in double figures in scoring. Junior forward TIFFANY BOYD (Jersey City, NJ/Lincoln), who ranks No. 2 in Division III in blocked shots, just missed a double-double, with a game-high 10 rebounds (seven defensive), eight points and three rejections, and sophomore center KELLY WILSON (Jersey City, NJ/Hudson County Prep) added eight points and eight rebounds. Junior forward ARNESE GOODMAN (Jersey City, NJ/Lincoln) added nine rebounds and six assists.

 

Four players reached double figures for the Red Hawks, led by junior guard Jessica Horan (West Haverstraw, NY/North Rockland) with 13 points (4-6 FG, 2-3 3 FG). Junior guard Jessica Garrabrant (Denville, NJ/Morris Knolls) had 10 points (3-7 FG, 2-3 3FG), nine rebounds and four assists.

 

Senior forward Ferin Catlett (Lawnside, NJ/Haddon Heights) had 11 points, seven rebounds and four assists, while junior guard Cynthia Warrington (Villas, NJ/Cape May Regional) also scored 11, with five steals in 19 minutes. MSU was playing without reigning NJAC Player of the Year Stephanie Machin (New Providence, NJ/New Providence).

 

NJCU scored the first six points of the game, and led 9-1 on a three-pointer by freshman guard CAROLINA GARCIA (Franklin Park, NJ/Franklin). McNair drilled a three at 13:41 and after a foul sank a free throw for as 15-1 edge. Garcia added a jumper at 11:55 for a 17-1 score. MSU missed its first 10 shots of the game before Horan hit the Red Hawks’ first field goal of the game with 11:32 left in the half. That bucket sparked MSU, which outscored the Knights 22-10 to finish the period.

 

For McNair, who has led the nation in steals in each of the last two seasons, it was a swipe which led to her 1000^th point. At 9:03, she picked off a pass and drove the length of the court for a fast-break basket and a 21-6 lead.

               

A 9-2 spurt capped by a three by sophomore guard Meghan Kelley (Newtown, CT/Newtown) made it 23-15 with 4:46 to go. Baskets by Boyd and Wilson restored the lead to 12 points, 27-15, with 3:11 left, before MSU scored the final eight points of the period, for a 27-23 halftime margin.

 

Horan scored 11 of her 13 points in the second half as MSU overcame the early 16-point deficit, and turned it into a 31-point swing, leading by as many as 15 in the second period.

 

McNair scored two fast-break baskets to open a 31-23 edge at 18:13 but MSU opened a 10-1 run over the next 4:23 to gain its first lead, 33-32, on a Horan three with 14:57 left. A McNair three made it 35-33 at 14:11, and Goodman added a lay-up at 12:51 to give the Knights its final lead, 37-35, with 12:51 remaining.

 

But scoring runs of 17-2 put the Hawks in front, 52-39 at 6:22, and the spurt increased to 21-4 for a 56-41 margin at 5:32. Overall, NJCU made just 2-of-9 field goals and committed seven turnovers over a span of 7:19. Garrabrant and Warrington combined for nine points before a Horan three made it 49-39 MSU with 7:43 left. Catlett made a lay-up at 5:32 for a 15-point lead. Garrabrant hit a three at 2:44 to again put the Hawks ahead by 15, 65-50. NJCU scored eight of the final nine points, but couldn’t regain the lead.

 

NJCU returns to action on Wednesday, January 17 at 7:30 p.m. with a road non-conference game against St. Joseph’s College (Brooklyn).