New Jersey City University Athletics

Box Score BOX SCORE

GALLOWAY, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Richard Stockton College opened a 25-point second half lead and although New Jersey City University was able to whittle that deficit to single digits late in the second half, ran out of time in its comeback bid before dropping a 63-53 conference decision to the Ospreys on December 5 at the Stockton Sports Center.
 
On a night where both schools struggled from the field—most noticeably three-point range—Stockton (3-1, 2-1 NJAC) was able to gain a large lead and hold on. NJCU (2-5, 1-3 NJAC) dropped its 19^th consecutive meeting with the Ospreys since 1998.
 
NJCU shot 32.8 percent for the game (21-64)—improving to 41.9 percent in the second period (13-31) after making just 8-of-33 in the first 20 minutes (.242). Stockton made the same number of field goals (21-59, .356).
 
NJCU shot 3-of-16 from three-point distance (.188) and Stockton was even less accurate (1-8, .125), but capitalized on its trips to the line, hitting 20-of-26 (.769).
 
In defeat, sophomore guard ASHLEY VAZQUEZ (Jersey City, NJ/Marist) scored a team-high 15 points, reaching double figures in scoring for the sixth time in seven games. However she struggled from the field (5-18 FG, 1-5 3FG).
 
Junior forward ALNISA HERNAIZ (Irvington, NJ/Irvington) added 14 points and eight rebounds, shooting 6-of-11 from the field. Senior forward MAXINE KAMINSKI (Kearny, NJ/Kearny) supplied 11 points (4-11 FG, 2-6 3FG) and four rebounds while freshman guard KIANA BRIGGS (Paterson, NJ/Passaic County Tech) collected nine points (4-9 FG), five rebounds, three assists and three steals.
 
Stockton was led by sophomore forward Sara Farrell (Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) with 15 points (6-9 FG) and five rebounds. Senior forward Alexa Ryan (Hazlet, NJ/Raritan) chipped in 11 points and seven rebounds while senior guard Che'na Thompson (Salem, NJ/Salem) contributed 11 points (5-11 FG), four assists and four rebounds.
 
Also for the Ospreys, senior guard Sarah Gibbs (Ocean View, NJ/Ocean City) grabbed eight rebounds (seven defensive) and freshman forward Ta'yon Morgan-Jones (Atlantic City, NJ/Atlantic City) added nine rebounds (seven offensive) and six points.
 
The Ospreys dominated play early on as they jumped out to a 10-3 lead in the first six minutes before building a 33-19 lead at halftime. Farrell scored 11 in the first half for the hosts.                                                                        
Stockton continued their strong play early in the second half and held NJCU without a basket for the first five minutes of the period. Meanwhile, the Ospreys pushed the lead into the 20s just 3:17 into the second half, reaching a high-water mark of 25 points with 13:19 on the clock and a 49-24 advantage in hand.
 
Trailing 51-27 with 10:33 left, NJCU made one late push—producing a 15-0 run over a stretch of five minutes that saw the Knights pull within nine points, 51-42, with 5:46 to play when Kaminski hit a three-pointer; she had eight points during the streak.
 
NJCU's momentum was cut short as the Ospreys would score the next six points to extend their lead to 57-42 with 4:03 to play and maintained a double digit advantage to seal the decision.
 
NJCU returns to action on Saturday, December 8 at 2 p.m. when it hosts Kean University at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center. The contest will be treated as a non-conference game this season due to league administrative action prior to the season. Kean is 1-5 overall and 0-4 against NJAC opponents.