New Jersey City University Athletics

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ALL-TIME 20-REBOUND PERFORMANCES, NJCU HISTORY

HACKETTSTOWN, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Despite 17 points from sophomore point guard ASHLEY VAZQUEZ (Jersey City, NJ/Marist) and a career-high 20 rebounds by junior forward ALNISA HERNAIZ (Irvington, NJ/Irvington), New Jersey City University fell behind 27-17 at halftime and couldn't capitalize on offensive opportunities in the second half as Centenary College won its first game of the season, 52-46 defending the Gothic Knights in non-conference action on December 3 at the John M. Reeves Student Recreation Center.
 
The win was the first ever for Centenary (1-7) over NJCU (2-4). The Gothic Knights still lead the all-time series, 5-1. NJCU shot 8-of-31 from the field in the first half and finished making 30.0 percent overall (18-60). The Cyclones shot 35.3 percent (18-51).
 
Vazquez reached double figures in scoring for the fifth time in six games and led the club for the third time with 17 points (6-15 FG, 3-8 3FG), while adding career highs of five assists and four steals with four rebounds in 35 minutes. She scored NJCU's first 11 points of the second half when the Knights opened the period on a 13-2 run.
 
Hernaiz tallied 20 rebounds (eight offensive, 12 defensive) and added 10 points and four steals, but struggled shooting in 39 minutes, making 3-of-12 shots (4-10 FT). Still, she notched her second double-double of the season and 11^th of her career while recording double figures in rebounds for the 20^th time in her career and exceeding 15 boards for the fourth time.
 
Hernaiz' 20 rebounds are the highest total in the New Jersey Athletic Conference this season and equal the largest total by any player in the league since January 3, 2011.
 
She became just the 15^th known player in school history to notch 20 rebounds in a single game—something that has been accomplished a combined 33 times on record in the 43-year history of the program.
 
“Tonight we did not play a complete game,” said second-year head coach Amy Mulligan. “We didn't finish when we had the opportunities. Centenary played a great game and made the shots when they had to.”
 
Senior guard/forward DELIA CHERNEZ (Union City, NJ/Union City) supplied eight points (4-6 FG), seven rebounds (five defensive) and three assists while rookie center DESEREE JOHNSON (Red Bank, NJ/Monmouth Regional) added five points and four rebounds in 32 reserve minutes.
 
The Cyclones were led by junior guard Nicole Collins (Hazlet, NJ/Raritan) with a game-high 18 points (6-9 FG) and four assists. Senior forward Kellie Rose (Jackson, NJ/Jackson Memorial) contributed 11 points and junior guard Melissa Kukoda (Spotswood, NJ/Spotswood) delivered seven assists versus only three turnovers and added six rebounds.
 
Also for the Cyclones, junior guard Klarissa Perry (Englewood, NJ/Dwight Morrow) supplied nine rebounds (six defensive), six points and two steals.  Senior forward Kristen Cenicacelaya (Hackettstown, NJ/Hackettstown) grabbed eight rebounds while senior forward Danielle Trucksess (Collingswood, NJ/Collingswood) had nine points and five rebounds.
 
Centenary recorded an assist on 17 of its 18 made baskets and while each team committed 20 turnovers in the contest, Centenary had a nearly 2:1 ratio in points off giveaways (15-7).
 
In the first half, Centenary never trailed and jumped out to a 12-4 lead in the first six minutes of action before Chernez and Hernaiz hit back-to-back layups to cut the score to 12-8 with 12:54 to play.
 
The Cyclones responded with an 11-0 run over the next six minutes of play and held the Gothic Knights scoreless until 3:56 remained in the first half when Hernaiz hit a layup to make the score, 23-10. Rose hit a three and a layup before back-to-back baskets by Collins made it 23-8.
 
Centenary extended their lead to as many as 17 and the run to 15-2 with 2:48 left in the period (27-10) before the Gothic Knights were able to close out the half with a 7-0 run on a Vazquez three and two Chernez buckets. CC led at the break, 27-17.
 
NJCU continued their momentum into the second half as Vazquez scored the first five points of the half—a three-pointer and a layup—to cut the score to 27-22. The Gothic Knights pushed their inter-period run to 20-2 as Vazquez hit another three then converted a layup and a later foul shot before Hernaiz gave NJCU its first lead of the night with 15:41 on the clock with a layup (30-29).
 
But Centenary regained the lead 29 seconds later on a Collins three and used a 14-4 run of its own to push the lead back to nine, 43-34, with 9:42 left on a triple by Trucksess.
 
The hosts never trailed after that point run as NJCU went another 4:29 without a point. NJCU would attempt a late rally, holding the Cyclones scoreless for a nearly eight minute span (8:58). NJCU only made two field goals itself during that stretch—failing to capitalize on the opportunity to take control of the game, but were able to whittle the deficit to one point, 45-44, with 3:09 left when Hernaiz hit the front end of two foul shots.
 
But Centenary would snap its late scoring drought in the nick of time when Rose buried a three with 1:44 left to make it 48-44. NJCU did not make another field goal after a Johnson jumper with 4:30 left, and scored just two more points the rest of the contest.  The Knights shot just 1-for-12 from the field to finish the night and 4-for-10 from the free throw stripe during that stretch. Meanwhile, Trucksess and Kukoda each hit two foul shots down the stretch to make it a two possession game and ensure the final decision.
 
NJCU will attempt to shake off the outcome when it returns to the court on Wednesday in a New Jersey Athletic Conference contest against Richard Stockton College at 6 p.m. in Galloway, NJ.