New Jersey City University Athletics

 

JERSEY CITY, NJ…William Paterson University jumped out to a 15-5 lead and never trailed as the New Jersey Athletic Conference North Division leaders completed the season sweep of New Jersey City University, 71-59, in a conference game Saturday night at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center. NJCU was sponsoring a “Think Pink” evening for breast cancer awareness, in conjunction with the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA).

 

WPU (18-5, 9-2 NJAC) won its fourth consecutive game and the 12^th straight meeting against the Gothic Knights (8-16, 3-9 NJAC).

 

In defeat, NJCU tied the single-game school record with 10 three-pointers, achieved just two weeks ago at City College of New York on January 30. NJCU shot 10-of-23 from three-point range (.435). WPU hit eight triples of its own (8-21, .381).

 

Junior forward Asia Johnson (Wildwood, NJ/Wildwood) had 19 points, nine rebounds, four steals, and four blocks in 34 minutes for the Pioneers, shooting 6-of-12 from the field and 7-of-11 from the line. Senior guard Michelle Pellichero (Milltown, NJ/Bishop Ahr) had 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting, including 4-of-8 from three-point range. While 10 WPU players scored, no other Pioneer had more than six points in what was a balanced effort by the remainder of the team.

 

TANIA GREENLEAF" src="/images/wbasket/2008/2/16/11-28-07%20Tania%20Greenleaf%2012.jpg" width=150 align=left border=0>Freshman guard ANGELA FITZGERALD (Jersey City, NJ/Marist) and sophomore guard TANIA GREENLEAF (Bordentown, NJ/Columbia) each netted 15 points for the Knights. Fitzgerald (7-16 FG) added seven rebounds and five assists in 37 minutes. Greenleaf buried 5-of-8 three-pointers—just one shy of the single-game individual record—and was 5-of-10 from the field with four boards before fouling out in 27 minutes of reserve action.

 

On Senior Day at NJCU, senior forward VANESSA VARGAS ESPINOZA (Union City, NJ/Emerson-Union City) put herself on the cusp of 1,000 career collegiate points. She added four three-pointers (4-9) and shot 5-of-12, finishing with 14 points. She now has 992 career points for Ramapo College (2002-05) and NJCU (2008) with one game left.

 

Junior forward ALAIA ROBINSON (Irvington, NJ/Irvington) matched Johnson with a game-high nine boards, adding six points and three steals. Sophomore point guard CAROLINA GARCIA (Plainfield, NJ/Franklin) had five assists.

 

WPU jumped out to a 13-3 lead in the first 4:40 of action after sophomore guard Elisa Brown (Norwalk, CT/Norwalk) hit back-to-back threes—the only two shots she made on the night. But that was enough to give the Pioneers a double figure lead. They would lead by at least 10 for all but two possessions the remainder of the night. Consecutive Pellichero three-pointers in 50 seconds put WPU ahead by 17 (33-16) with 4:35 left in the opening half and the Pioneers led by 12 at the break, 40-28.

 

NJCU was able to whittle the margin to nine (40-31) after Greenleaf hit a three on the opening possession of the second half, but WPU put the game out of reach with an 11-0 run over the next 3:11 capped by another Pellichero three to gain a 20-point, 51-31 edge—its largest of the game.

 

On Senior Night, NJCU also honored the lone four-year player in the men’s or women’s program, forward NATASHIA CLACKLEY (Long Branch, NJ/Long Branch).

 

NJCU will conclude the 2007-08 season when it visits Montclair State University in an NJAC North Division game in Montclair, NJ on Wednesday, February 20 at 8 p.m. WPU hosts Ramapo that night at 6 p.m.