New Jersey City University Athletics

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GAME PROGRAM/NOTES: Inside-the-Athlete feature on ASHLEY VAZQUEZ

NJCU, ALL-TIME OVERTIME HISTORY


JERSEY CITY, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New Jersey City University rookie guard KIANA BRIGGS (Paterson, NJ/Passaic County Tech) stole an inbounds pass and hit one of two foul shots with 1.0 seconds on the clock to force overtime before the Gothic Knights outscored Kean University, 10-3 in the extra session and defeated the Cougars at home for the first time in nearly 14 years, 56-49, in a non-conference women's basketball game on December 8 at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center ('Coach Charlie Brown Court.').
 
The overtime victory was only the second ever in Jersey City since the program was founded in 1970-71, its first home court overtime win ever against a Division III program and the first in the history of the JMAC (since 1994-95). NJCU is 10-9 all-time in overtime games in 44 seasons.
 
Briggs, who scored a career-high 13 points in 36 minutes, shot 5-of-14 overall and 3-of-7 from the line, but her steal with under three seconds left in the lane and subsequent slash to the basket, forced the extra period where NJCU (3-4) defeated the Cougars (1-6), a perennial New Jersey Athletic Conference power, for the first time since February 4, 2006 in Union, NJ.
 
Kean had won the last six meetings overall in any venue and eight straight in Jersey City since February 17, 1999. The game was a non-conference game as the Cougars are not part of the league standings this season due to a ruling of the NJAC Board of Athletic Administrators.
 
The game didn't appear headed for a dramatic second period ending because the Knights gained a 38-30 advantage with 5:42 left on a running jumper by Briggs to the right of the lane. But Kean used a 12-4 run over the next 4:15 to gain a 44-42 lead and still led 46-43 with 23.8 left. A layup by senior forward MAXINE KAMINSKI (Kearny, NJ/Kearny) with three seconds left made it a one-point game before Briggs claimed the inbounds steal.
 
“This was a great win after two tough losses where even though our shots didn't drop we fought through and maintained our composure,” said second-year coach Amy Mulligan.
 
“Kiana came up big for us today,” said Mulligan. “She showed poise and a lot of maturity. She played very aggressively and was able to remain composed through the game.
 
In addition to Briggs, NJCU was led by senior guard GABRIELLE RIVERA (Teaneck, NJ/Saint Joseph of the Palisades) with a team-high 14 points, including six in overtime. Rivera also had nine rebounds and five assists to overcome an off shooting effort.
 
Also for NJCU, junior forward ALNISA HERNAIZ (Irvington, NJ/Irvington) supplied 12 rebounds (eight defensive), seven points and four steals in 39 minutes before fouling out. The NJAC's leading rebounder coming in (10.9 per game), Hernaiz reached double figures in boards for the 21^st time in her career and third time this season.
 
Senior guard DELIA CHERNEZ (Union City, NJ/Union City) grabbed nine rebounds (six defensive) while tallying four steals and three assists in 42 minutes. Kaminski chipped in seven points while senior forward KERRI CASSARELLO (Keansburg, NJ/Keansburg) and sophomore guard ASHLEY VAZQUEZ (Jersey City, NJ/Marist) each scored five points; Vazquez had her streak of consecutive games scoring in double figures snapped at six straight in the victory.
 
“Our senior class showed a lot of heart and effort and never gave up during the game,” added Mulligan.
 
In defeat, Kean was led by rookie guard Jatirah Diggs (Elizabeth, NJ/Hamilton Prep Academy) with 19 points (7-19 FG), four steals and four rebounds in 43 minutes. Sophomore guard AnnaRose Pierre (East Orange, NJ/Newark Tech) supplied 18 points (7-13 FG), six rebounds and three steals in 33 minutes before fouling out. Rookie center Jordan Mangiafico-Chambers (Frederick, MD/Frederick) grabbed nine rebounds (eight defensive) in 19 reserve minutes.
 
Tied at 30-30 with under 10 minutes to play, NJCU scored the next eight points. After a jumper by Briggs put NJCU ahead, Rivera drove the baseline for a nifty pass to Hernaiz for an easy two, and Rivera followed with a jumper from the foul line for a 36-30 advantage before Briggs jumper made it 38-30.
 
The Cougars would score the next seven points to cut the deficit to one with 4:07 remaining when Mangiafico hit two free throws after Kean scored five fast break points in a span of 14 seconds to cut it to three—a steal and layup by Pierre and a three-point play by Diggs.
 
Kean tied the game at 40-40 with 2:07 left on a Pierre foul shot. Six seconds later another turnover by NJCU and Pierre steal led to a fast break basket as the Cougars moved ahead, 42-40. Senior guard/forward KERRI CASSARELLO (Keansburg, NJ/Keansburg) hit a jumper in the lane to tie it (42-42) with 1:48 left but Pierre slashed to the basket for two points and a 44-42 lead with 1:27 left. The teams traded free throws to keep it a two-point game. With 44.5 on the clock NJCU called timeout, missed a three out of the break, but got the ball back when Kean stepped out of bounds in front of the Gothic Knight bench. Vazquez drove to the lane, but her shot was blocked. Kean was fouled and sophomore guard Shanice Jones (Newark, NJ/Newark Tech) hit the back end of two free throws with 23.8 left for a 46-43 lead.
 
That set up the decisive final sequence. Vazquez drove the lane and found Kaminski open to the left of the basket for an easy two with three seconds left. Then Briggs leaped to tip away the inbounds pass, caught the loose ball in the lane and was fouled going to the rim. Her first foul shot with 1.0 on the clock swished through to tie it before the second rolled out, forcing OT.
 
The beginning of overtime looked as if Kean was going to be the victor as they scored the first three points from the line to take a 49-46 lead with 4:15 to play. But NJCU responded with the final 10 points of the game. Rivera made a pair of foul shots then put NJCU ahead, 50-49, when a steal by Chernez led to a Rivera basket with 3:20 left, off a great swing pass from Kaminski. Tight defense and two Kean turnovers allowed NJCU to pull away. Rivera made a key defensive rebound with 30.2 on the clock and was fouled, hitting both free throws for a 54-49 lead before Briggs added a defensive board and two foul shots with 9.2 left to seal the seven-point decision.
 
Kean was 0-for-5 from the field in overtime and while NJCU only made one field goal (1-5), the Knights hit 8-of-12 from the line in the extra session.
 
In a low-scoring first half, the Cougars jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first six minutes of play. NJCU finally got on the scoreboard when freshman center DESEREE JOHNSON (Tinton Falls, NJ/Monmouth Regional) hit a jumper at the 13:44 mark and the hosts scored the next seven points. After trading baskets for the remainder of the first period, Briggs hit a jumper with 0:25 to play to give NJCU the 22-20 halftime lead. Diggs (11) and Pierre (9) combined to score 20 of Kean's 22 first half points.
 
NJCU is back on the court when it hosts FDU-Florham in a non-conference contest on Monday, December 10 at 6 p.m. at the JMAC.