BOX SCORE
NEW YORK, NY (www.NJCUGothicKnights.com) | As a freshman in 2009-10, forward MAXINE KAMINSKI (Kearny, NJ/Kearny) scored in double figures just twice and never more than 11 points. In the first game of her sophomore year, she nearly doubled that output while willing the New Jersey City University women's basketball team to a sensational comeback bid. Kaminski netted a career-best 20 points and was two rebounds shy of a double-double and the Gothic Knights, trailing by 21 points with 14:36 left, cut it to a one-possession game in the final moments before dropping a season-opening 54-49 decision to host Hunter College in the opening game of the 2010-11 Hunter College Tip-Off at the Hunter Sportsplex.
Hunter wins its first game (1-1) while NJCU falls to 0-1. It was the first meeting between the schools since November 20, 1993. The Hawks own a 7-6 series margin since records became available in 1977.
Kaminski shot 8-of-18 overall and 4-of-6 from the line, scoring 20 points with eight rebounds (seven defensive), and senior guard CAROLINA GARCIA (Plainfield, NJ/Franklin) chipped in eight points (4-20 FG, 0-6 3FG), four assists, two blocks and two steals.
Freshman swing MARIA SUAREZ (Cliffside Park, NJ/Cliffside Park) had eight rebounds, five points (5-9 FT), three steals and two blocks but was 0-for-11 from the field. Sophomore point guard NIDIA CARMONA (Elizabeth, NJ/Elizabeth) had five points (0-5 FG) and four steals before fouling out.
The Knights struggled from the field, shooting 17-of-73 overall (.233) and 1-of-13 from three-point distance (.077) but forced Hunter into 30 turnovers while committing just 16.
The Hawks, which led by 10, 25-15 at the half, were paced by a pair of double-doubles. Freshman guard Nicole Lenard (Maspeth, NY) had 20 points (5-12 FG, 9-10 FT) and 11 rebounds (eight defensive) while sophomore guard Johanna Keilwitz (Wolmirstedt, Germany) added 11 defensive rebounds, 10 points (5-8 FG) and three assists before fouling out.
Freshman forward Kristen Markoe (Staten Island, NY) hauled down a game-high 17 rebounds, including 15 defensively, poured in nine points (2-11 FG, 4-6 FT) and tallied seven assists and three steals. Freshman forward Marta Banach (Maspeth, NY) chalked up seven rebounds, five points and two blocks.
Hunter never trailed and led 19-15 with 2:12 to go in the first half before scoring the final six points of the period for a 10-point halftime cushion. Lenard, who scored seven straight points for the Hawks, made it 28-15 early in the second half and Hunter's lead swelled to 21, 38-17, when she sank two foul shots with 14:36 left.
In all, Hunter pieced together a 19-2 run over a span of 7:48 and the Knights finally converted their first field goal of the second half on a Kaminski finish with 14:24 left.
But NJCU did not quit and whittled the lead to nine on a jumper by Kaminski off a Garcia feed with 6:56 to go and a three-pointer by freshman forward ALNISA HERNAIZ (Irvington, NJ/Irvington) made it a six-point game with 5:48 left. Just 24 seconds later, Kaminski made it a four-point, 45-41 contest with two foul shots. Hunter's lead stood at six after a jumper with 5:12 remaining.
Both sides went more than three minutes without a field goal. Lenard made two free throws with 2:15 remaining before Kaminski followed seconds later with a basket. Three Hunter foul shots made it a seven-point lead with 1:03 left.
A steal by Hernaiz led to an eventual foul and Suarez sank both foul shots with 41 seconds to play and Garcia converted a giveaway by the Hawks into a jumper with 14 seconds remaining as NJCU suddenly trailed by just three points, 52-49. But NJCU had to foul to stop the clock, Lenard made both free throws and the Knights ran out of time in their comeback bid.
In the consolation game of the tournament, NJCU will meet Albright College on November 20 at 1 p.m. The Lions dropped an 81-74 decision to Bridgewater State University in the other first round game.
—www.njcugothicknights.com—
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Team Stat Comparison
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NJCU
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HUNTER
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Score
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49
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54
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Half-Time Score
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15
|
25
|
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Field Goal Percentage
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.233 (17-73)
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.333 (18-54)
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Three-Point Percentage
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.077 (1-13)
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.154 (2-13)
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Free Throw Percentage
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.609 (14-23)
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.727 (16-22)
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Rebounds (O-D-T)
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17-28-45
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11-47-58
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Assists
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12
|
12
|
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Turnovers
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16
|
30
|
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Blocks
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5
|
3
|
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Steals
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12
|
6
|
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Fouls
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22
|
24
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Largest Lead
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None
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21
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Points in the Paint
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20
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22
|
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Points off Turnovers
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16
|
10
|
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Second Change Points
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9
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6
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Fast Break Points
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2
|
2
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Bench Points
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9
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n/a
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