New Jersey City University Athletics

 

 

JERSEY CITY, NJ…Senior point guard LATRESE McNAIR (Elizabeth, NJ/Elizabeth) tied her career high with 31 points, moving into fifth place in New Jersey City University history in scoring and 14^th in the Division III record book in steals, as the Gothic Knights turned 27 Ramapo College turnovers into a 25-10 margin in scoring off giveaways, and defeated the Roadrunners, 61-56, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference North Division contest at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center.

 

In a meeting of two schools looking for their first NJAC victory of the season, the Knights (5-11, 1-6 NJAC) were able to hold off the Roadrunners (4-13, 0-7 NJAC) late, as McNair scored more than half of her teams’ points. Ramapo loses its fifth consecutive game.

 

McNair tied her career high of 31 set just 11 days ago, when she collected 31 in an eight-point loss at Montclair State University on January 13. She continued to cement her place as one of the all-time great women’s basketball players ever to don a Gothic Knights uniform, becoming the first player since the 1988-89 season to score 30 points twice in the same season and twice in the same month.

All-time leading scorer Monique Hemmingway (1,673, 1984-87, 88-89) netted at least 30 points seven times in 1989, including two games of 40 or more. Overall, McNair scored 22 of NJCU’s first 37 points and 26 of 43.

 

McNair scored 16 points in the second half, and overall shot 10-of-20, with five rebounds and four steals while playing all 40 minutes for the third straight game and the fifth time this year. Now with 1,087 career points, she passed Doris Nicholson (1,081, 1986-89) for fifth in scoring in women’s basketball history. With 424 career steals, she climbed up one spot to 14^th.

 

ARNESE GOODMAN" src="/images/wbasket/2007/1/25/11-18-06%20Arnese%20Goodman%209.jpg" width=150 align=left border=0>Junior forward ARNESE GOODMAN (Jersey City, NJ/Lincoln) recorded 17 points (7-13 FG), with five rebounds, five steals, and three assists, playing with four fouls.  Freshman guard CAROLINA GARCIA (Franklin Park, NJ/Franklin) added 11 points (5-8 FG) and three steals. NJCU also received eight rebounds and a career-high five blocks from junior guard NATASHIA CLACKLEY (Long Branch, NJ/Long Branch).

 

Ramapo had a 19-2 edge in bench scoring overall, largely due to the dominance of NJCU’s starting lineup, featuring McNair, Goodman, and Garcia, who alone were responsible for  59 points.

 

The Roadrunners received a double-double of 15 rebounds (11 defensive) and 13 points from senior guard Keona Palmer (Port Reading, NJ/Woodbridge). Senior guard Kelly Bartz (Madison, NJ/Madison) contributed14 points, hitting 3-of-5 three-pointers, with five rebounds and four assists. Sophomore forward Tiffany China (West Orange, NJ/West Orange) scored nine points (4-8 FG) and provided five rebounds.

 

In a game in which there were seven lead changes and six ties, Ramapo twice led by eight points in the first half, including 14-6. McNair scored four straight to give NJCU one of only three leads in the first half at 18-16, and the Knights scored eight of the final 10 points for a 28-25 cushion at the break.

McNair scored 15 of NJCU’s 28 first half points. Goodman added nine points, as only three NJCU players scored in the opening period.

 

Ramapo, which struggled at the end of the first half, opened the second period on a 13-2 run, and gained a 38-30 margin at 15:44 on a Palmer jumper. Seven straight points by McNair, including a three-pointer, followed by a Clackley jumper put NJCU in front, 39-38.

 

The game remained close, with several ties, before two McNair free throws, and a three-point play by Goodman made it 48-44 at 7:35. Thee tandem of Goodman and McNair collected 42 of NJCU’s first 48 points, and NJCU would never trail again.

 

With 6:02 left, Palmer sank a free throw to tie the game for a final time, before an 8-2 spurt by the Knights made it 56-49 at 2:21, as Goodman scored off an NJCU steal. Garcia contributed to the run with an amazing driving basket and a jumper. RCNJ did not come closer than four points the rest of the night.  NJCU won despite shooting 2-of-18 from deep (11.1%).

 

NJCU will return to action on Saturday, January 27 at 1 p.m. when it visits Rowan University in an NJAC game in Glassboro, NJ. Ramapo visits Rutgers University-Camden at the same time.