New Jersey City University Athletics

MONTCLAIR, NJ…Senior forward VANESSA VARGAS ESPINOZA (Union City, NJ/Emerson-Union City) scored the 1000^th point of her collegiate career and New Jersey City University opened the second half on a 12-2 run to draw within two points, but Montclair State University prevented the Gothic Knights from winning at the Panzer Gymnasium for the first time ever, holding on for a 61-49 decision over NJCU in a New Jersey Athletic Conference North Division game on Wednesday night.

 

NJCU, which faced the top three teams in the NJAC North Division to close out the regular season, concludes the 2007-08 campaign losing its final three games, and with an 8-17 record (3-10 NJAC). MSU (15-9, 7-5 NJAC), which won its 10^th straight game against NJCU since 2002-03, leads the all-time series, 41-3.

 

The Red Hawks received a double-double of 18 points (7-16 FG), 12 rebounds and four assists from senior guard Jessica Garrabrant (Denville, NJ/Morris Knolls) and 12 points (4-9 FG), six rebounds, and four blocks from sophomore forward Catherine Cristino (Farmingdale, NJ/Colts Neck). Senior guard Jessica Horan (West Haverstraw, NY/North Rockland) added eight points (5-6 FT) and three steals, while sophomore guard Jackie Berry (Tuckerton, NJ/Pinelands) finished with six points, five rebounds, four assists and four steals.

 

Espinoza, who entered the game with 992 points in her career, scored nine points and added a team-best 10 rebounds to finish her collegiate career with 1,001 points. She scored 773 points in three years at Ramapo College (2002-05), and 228 in one semester since transferring to NJCU. Her 1000^th point came on an offensive rebound and short jumper in the lane with 4:47 remaining in her final career game.

 

Freshman guard ANGELA FITZGERALD (Jersey City, NJ/Marist) scored 12 points (5-11 FG) with eight rebounds and three assists. Senior forward NATASHIA CLACKLEY (Long Branch, NJ/Long Branch) scored eight points in her final career game (4-7 FG). Sophomore guard TANIA GREENLEAF (Bordentown, NJ/Columbia) also scored eight points, with five rebounds while sophomore point guard CAROLINA GARCIA (Plainfield, NJ/Franklin) also had eight points.

 

Montclair, which never trailed, broke open a 9-6 game with a 13-2 run capped by a three-pointer by Garrabrant that gave the Red Hawks a 22-8 lead with 7:55 left in the period. MSU pushed the lead to 17—29-12 with 5:07 remaining—before NJCU scored nine straight points to close the gap to 29-21. Garrabrant, who scored 14 of her 18 in the first half, added two baskets in the final 29 seconds to give the Hawks a 33-21 halftime cushion.

 

Five different NJCU players scored during the second-half opening 12-2 run, including four straight points by Greenleaf that allowed the Knights to draw within two, 35-33 with 15:01 remaining. MSU regained a 41-33 edge, but NJCU continued to fight back, and cut the deficit to four, 43-39, on an offensive rebound and putback by junior forward ALAIA ROBINSON (Irvington, NJ/Irvington) with 7:42 remaining.

 

A layup by Garrabrant and back-to-back three-pointers by Cristino in a span of 59 seconds extended the MSU lead to 51-41 with 5:11 remaining. Espinoza scored her 1000^th point with 4:47 left on an offensive rebound and short jumper in the paint and NJCU cut the lead to 51-43, but that was as close as the Knights could get the remainder of the game. NJCU was forced to foul down the stretch, and MSU converted six consecutive free throws to move ahead by 15 (60-45) before winning by 12.

 

NJCU had a 30-16 margin in points in the paint and 21-7 on second chance opportunities, but Montclair turned 23 Gothic Knight turnovers into a decisive 27-10 differential in points off giveaways. NJCU was 1-of-14 from three-point range (.071).