New Jersey City University Athletics

 

JERSEY CITY, NJ…Junior guard Lisa Neira’s (Cresskill, NJ/Cresskill) running jumper with 3.0 seconds remaining hung on the rim and spun around before falling through with the winning points, as Richard Stockton College completed a second-half comeback and defeated New Jersey City University, 51-48, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference women’s basketball game at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center.

 

Stockton (6-9, 4-2 NJAC) snaps a four-game road losing streak, while NJCU falls to 4-11 and 0-6 in the NJAC. It was the seventh time this season NJCU has lost a game despite holding a second half lead. NJCU was just 5-of-16 from the line in the loss (31.3 percent).

 

Stockton never led by more than four points in the contest. In a game dominated by the starters, only five points came from bench players between the two clubs.

 

The game was played on Homecoming/Green and Gold Days at NJCU, and the Knights are now 0-4 all-time since Homecoming became a winter activity in 2004.

 

In defeat, senior point guard LATRESE McNAIR (Elizabeth, NJ/Elizabeth) netted a game-high 19 points (7-21 FG), with four assists and three steals while playing a full 40 minutes. She scored 13 points in the first half as NJCU built a 27-18 halftime lead. She increased her career scoring total to 1,056.

 

Senior guard BERNICE AMADEO (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) notched 12 points, knocking down 4-of-6 shots from three-point territory. Junior forward ARNESE GOODMAN (Jersey City, NJ/Lincoln) added nine rebounds, seven points, and two blocks, while sophomore forward TRISHA SANON (Jersey City, NJ/Hudson County Prep) finished with seven first-half rebounds.

 

Sophomore forward Jenn Russell (Scotch Plains, NJ/Scotch Plains-Fanwood) matched McNair with a game-high 19 points (7-16 FG), and finished with a double-double, grabbing a game-best 10 rebounds and three blocks. She scored 12 points in the second half.

 

Neira had nine points (4-10 FG) and five assists, also playing all 40 minutes. Senior guard Jenna Shenk (Mount Laurel, NJ/Bishop Eustace) added nine points and seven rebounds.

 

With 8:36 remaining in the first half, Amadeo hit a three to give the Knights the lead, and NJCU continued to build its advantage throughout the period. Amadeo drilled 3-of-3 three-point shots in the opening half including a bomb from the right corner with less than five seconds remaining, to give NJCU its largest lead of the first half, 27-18 at the break.

 

But Stockton, which shot just 24.1 percent in the first half (7-29), was a different team in the second period, converting 54.2 percent (13-24) of its shots. A 13-4 run to start the second half allowed Stockton to tie the game at 31-31 with 14:43 left, off a three by junior guard Michele Auerbacher (Franklin Lakes, NJ/Ramapo). Amadeo answered with her fourth three of the game as NJCU regained a 34-31 cushion at 12:11.

 

The Knights continued to lead for most of the second half. A steal and fast-break lay-up by McNair made it 42-37 at 7:28, and a jumper by freshman guard CAROLINA GARCIA (Franklin Park, NJ/Franklin) gave the Knights a 44-38 margin with 6:45 left.

 

However, Stockton outscored NJCU 13-4 to finish the game. After four free throws by Russell, and a lay-up by senior forward Alicia Morris (Easthampton, NJ/Rancocas Valley) made it 44-43, Shenk put the Ospreys in front 45-44 at 3:38. She buried a triple at 3:02 for a 48-44 RSC advantage.

 

McNair carried NJCU on her back in the final 1:01, hitting a pair of free throws for a 48-46 deficit. Then, with 23.5 seconds left, she flew to the basket and sank a running right-handed shot off the window to tie the game at 48-48. However, with the shot clock off, the Ospreys had the ball with a chance to win, and Neira hit her unlikely shot near the foul line, and a subsequent free throw for the 51-48 win.

 

NJCU will return to action on Wednesday, January 24 at 6 p.m. when it hosts Ramapo College in a New Jersey Athletic Conference contest at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center. Stockton hosts Gettysburg College on January 23 at 7 p.m. in non-conference action.