New Jersey City University Athletics

 

 

JERSEY CITY, NJ…New Jersey City University scored the first 15 points of the game and never were challenged en route to the most lopsided New Jersey Athletic Conference victory in 19 years, as three players scored in double figures and all 11 active players netted at least two points while the Gothic Knights crushed reeling Ramapo College, 86-46, in a NJAC North Division game at the John J. Moore Athletic and Fitness Center on Wednesday.

 

The Knights (7-14, 2-7 NJAC) completed the season sweep of Ramapo (3-17, 0-9 NJAC), defeating the Roadrunners for the fifth consecutive meeting, while handing RCNJ its 16^th consecutive loss. RCNJ still leads the all-time series, 27-24 (one missing result). NJCU has won three of its last four games and snapped a four-game home court losing streak.

 

NJCU’s 86-point effort is the highest scoring output since a 94-50 victory against Farmingdale State on December 12, 2001.  Meanwhile, the 40-point victory is the largest margin since a 56-point win against City College of New York, 77-21, on December 21, 2006.

 

It is the 51^st time in school history the Knights have won a game by at least 30 points, and the 31^st time by at least 40, and was its largest margin of victory this season. NJCU had won three games this season by 22, including a 61-39 decision at Ramapo on January 9.

 

The 40-point victory is the fifth time in school history the Knights have won a conference game by 40 points and was its most lopsided win over an NJAC opponent since an 82-42 home victory against Rutgers-Camden on December 12, 1989. It is the second most lopsided win ever against the Roadrunners, second only to a 57-point, 94-37 final on January 11, 1989.

 

Overall, NJCU had a 40-9 advantage off 29 RCNJ turnovers and a 22-2 edge on the fast-break. NJCU’s ball movement allowed 27 of its 33 field goals to receive assists. It is the most assists by the team since compiling 29 against Medgar Evers College on November 20, 2004.

 

Senior forward VANESSA VARGAS ESPINOZA (Union City, NJ/Emerson-Union City) flirted with a triple-double against her old school, scoring all 15 of her points in the first half. She shot 6-of-11 from the field and 3-of-7 from three-point range, adding eight assists and seven rebounds in 28 minutes, but only attempted one shot in the second half. Espinoza, who played at RCNJ from 2002-05, has 947 career points with four games remaining.

 

TANIA GREENLEAF" src="/images/wbasket/2008/2/6/01-28-08%20Tania%20Greenleaf%2016.jpg" width=150 align=left border=0>Sophomore guard TANIA GREENLEAF (Bordentown, NJ/Columbia) scored 10 of her game-high 18 points in the second half, shooting 6-of-11 from the field and 4-of-8 from three-point range, with five assists and five steals. Freshman guard ANGELA FITZGERALD (Jersey City, NJ/Marist) contributed 13 points (6-14 FG), six rebounds, a game-high six steals and four assists.

 

Sophomore guard CAROLINA GARCIA (Plainfield, NJ/Franklin) had a game-high six assists, scoring nine points. Junior forward ALAIA ROBINSON (Irvington, NJ/Irvington) had a game-best nine rebounds, with eight points (3-7 FG) and three steals and sophomore center SHAYLA DANIELS (Jersey City, NJ/Lincoln) chalked up nine points (5-6 FT).

 

In defeat, Ramapo received 11 points (4-9 FG) and five rebounds from  junior forward Tiffany China (West Orange, NJ/West Orange) and seven rebounds from sophomore guard Jaliza Barnes (Roselle, NJ/Abraham Clark).

 

The Gothic Knights scored the game’s first 15 points and held the Roadrunners scoreless until the 12:30 mark in the first half.  The Knights kept the momentum going behind Espinoza’s 15 points first half points. NJCU would lead by as many 29 in the first half (41-12), going into the break with a 43-16 lead. The Knights picked up where they left off in the second half, twice stretching the lead to as many as 42 in the final minute before prevailing by 40. 

 

NJCU, which out-rebounded the Roadrunners, 41-25, shot 50.0 percent overall (33-66), including 59.3 percent in the second half, and equaled the second most three-pointers in a game in school history, shooting 42.1 percent on 8-of-19. NJCU also picked off 20 steals.

 

The Gothic Knights will return to action on Saturday, February 9 when they travel to Rutgers-Camden for their next NJAC game at 1 p.m.  The Roadrunners will return to action at the same time when they host The College of New Jersey.