New Jersey City University Athletics

Box Score BOX SCORE

MONTCLAIR, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | No. 23/25 ranked Montclair State University outscored New Jersey City University in the second half, 44-19, and owned a decisive 37-6 advantage in points off turnovers as the Red Hawks remained unbeaten with a 76-41 New Jersey Athletic Conference women's basketball victory over the Gothic Knights on December 12 at the Panzer Athletic Center.
 
Montclair, ranked #23 nationally by D3hoops.com and 25^th in the USA Today Sports Division III Top 25 Coaches' Poll, moves to 9-0 on the season and 6-0 in the league. NJCU (3-7, 1-4 NJAC) drops its second straight game against a pair of schools that are a combined 17-1 on the season, also losing to FDU-Florham (8-1) on Monday.
 
Montclair shot 48.6 percent (35-72) for the game but did not make a three-pointer on the night as the two schools combined to shoot 1-for-24 from three-point distance. NJCU (1-11, .091) made the only trey of the game. The two clubs combined for 54 giveaways, but MSU significantly capitalized on NJCU's 32 turnovers.
 
In a game featuring the league's No. 2 and No. 3 ranked teams in rebounding margin—MSU coming in at +6.4 and NJCU at +2.6—it was the Red Hawks that easily won the battle on the glass, 48-25, including 23-7 on the offensive glass, and turned that advantage into a 25-6 differential in second chance scoring. MSU also more than doubled the Knights' output in the paint, 52-20.
 
In defeat, senior guard GABRIELLE RIVERA (Teaneck, NJ/Saint Joseph of the Palisades) scored in double figures for the fourth time this season and 20^th time in two and a half years at NJCU, scoring 10 of her team-best 12 points in the second half. She shot 6-of-10 overall in 24 minutes.
 
Sophomore shooting guard JADE MEDLEY (Queens, NY/Hudson Catholic) reached double figures for the second straight game, scoring seven of her 10 points in the first half. She shot a perfect 7-for-7 from the line. Senior guard/forward KERRI CASSARELLO (Keansburg, NJ/Keansburg) finished with seven points on 3-of-4 shooting while rookie point guard KIANA BRIGGS (Paterson, NJ/Passaic County Tech) chipped in four assists. Senior guard DELIA CHERNEZ (Union City, NJ/Union City) tallied six rebounds (four defensive) and five steals.               
 
“Tonight we had a tough loss to a great team,” said second-year coach Amy Mulligan.  “They [Montclair] hit the boards hard and it ended up being a big difference in the game. Our turnovers hurt us as we didn't take care of the ball well.”
 
Montclair was led by senior forward Taylor Jeffers (Franklin Township, NJ/Franklin) with a game-high 19 points (8-13 FG) and seven rebounds in 36 minutes. Rookie guard Shalette Brown (Somerset, NJ/Franklin Township) contributed 11 points, seven rebounds (six offensive) and four steals while sophomore forward Melissa Tobie (Elizabeth, NJ/Roselle Catholic) supplied nine points, eight rebounds (six defensive) and two blocks.
 
NJCU never led in the game. In a first half, the Red Hawks dominated play from the opening tip-off as they jumped out to a 17-4 cushion and extended it to 26-10 in the first 14 minutes. Montclair led in double figures for the rest of the game and held a 10-point advantage at halftime, 32-22. Jeffers scored 11 points in the first half for the hosts.
 
In the second half, Montclair put the game out of reach with an 18-4 run to start the period and built a 50-26 differential with 11:56 left. The hosts' largest lead was 38 with 1:29 left in the contest.
 
NJCU will attempt to shake off the loss on Saturday, December 15 at 2 p.m. when it hosts Manhattanville College (4-3) in a non-conference game at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center.