WAYNE, NJ…William Paterson University, the first place overall team in the New Jersey Athletic Conference, jumped out to a 12-0 lead and never looked back, as the Pioneers defeated injury-depleted New Jersey City University, 70-43, in an NJAC North Division contest on Saturday at the Rec Center.
WPU (11-4, 3-1 NJAC), ranked 37th nationally by D3Hoops.com, and the lone team in Division III to defeat powerhouse Kean University, stopped NJCU (4-11, 1-4 NJAC) for the 11th straight meeting. WPU also won its fourth game in five outings.
For the second straight game, NJCU was without their leading scorer, freshman guard
ANGELA FITZGERALD (Jersey City, NJ/Marist) who averages 15.5 points. Senior forward
NATASHIA CLACKLEY (Long Branch, NJ/Long Branch) also sat out with an injury.
WPU received a huge double-double of 19 points (6-12 FG; 7-8 FT), 15 rebounds and two blocks from junior forward Asia Johnson (Wildwood, NJ/Wildwood). Sophomore forward Jonnelle Rodriguez (Elizabeth, NJ/Carteret) did not miss a shot (5-5 FG), scoring 10 points in 15 reserve minutes, adding five rebounds. In all, 11 Pioneers scored. Freshman forward Absatu Mustapha (Somerset, NJ/Franklin) had seven points and seven rebounds.
In defeat, senior forward
VANESSA VARGAS ESPINOZA (Union City, NJ/Emerson-Union City) had 11 points (4-12 FG; 3-10 3FG) and five rebounds. Sophomore guard
ROSALY DIAZ (Woodbridge, NJ/Cardinal McCarrick), a mid-season transfer, started her first game for the Knights and scored a career-best 10 points, shooting 5-of-10 from the field. Sophomore point guard
CAROLINA GARCIA (Plainfield, NJ/Franklin) matched a career-high with seven assists, scoring five points.
Also for NJCU, sophomore guard
TANIA GREENLEAF (Bordentown, NJ/Columbia) had eight points and junior forward
ALAIA ROBINSON (Irvington, NJ/Irvington) grabbed seven boards.
WPU out-rebounded NJCU 54-30 overall and utilized that advantage for a 25-10 margin in second chance points. The Pioneers also outscored NJCU 48-14 in the paint, 15-4 on the fast-break, and 33-17 with its reserves.
The Pioneers shot .424 for the game (28-66) and 11-of-12 from the stripe (91.7 percent). NJCU made .279 from the field (17-61) and .217 from three-point range (5-23).
WPU was ahead 30-14 at halftime, twice leading by 18 in the period. The hosts’ largest lead was 28 (68-40) with 1:37 remaining in the game.
NJCU returns to action on Wednesday, January 23 at 6 p.m. when it hosts Montclair State University in an NJAC North Division game in Jersey City, NJ.
—www.njcugothicknights.com—
|
Team Stat Comparison |
|
|
NJCU |
WPU |
|
Score |
43 |
70 |
|
Half-Time Score |
14 |
30 |
|
Field Goal Percentage |
.279 (17-61) |
.424 (28-66) |
|
Three-Point Percentage |
.217 (5-23) |
.429 (3-7) |
|
Free Throw Percentage |
.800 (4-5) |
.917 (11-12) |
|
Rebounds (O-D-T) |
14-16-30 |
23-31-54 |
|
Assists |
12 |
15 |
|
Turnovers |
21 |
22 |
|
Blocks |
0 |
3 |
|
Steals |
6 |
9 |
|
Fouls |
14 |
10 |
|
Largest Lead |
None |
28 |
|
Points in the Paint |
14 |
48 |
|
Points off Turnovers |
8 |
18 |
|
Second Change Points |
10 |
25 |
|
Fast Break Points |
4 |
15 |
|
Bench Points |
17 |
33 |
