New Jersey City University Athletics

Box Score BOX SCORE

MONTCLAIR, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Sophomore forward ALNISA HERNAIZ (Irvington, NJ/Irvington) tallied her eighth career double-double and fifth of the season but New Jersey City University committed 24 turnovers and Montclair State University converted the Gothic Knights giveaways into a 33-8 margin in points off giveaways as the Red Hawks cruised to a 70-42 win in a New Jersey Athletic Conference North Division women's basketball game on Wednesday night at the Panzer Athletic Center.                       
 
The Red Hawks improve to 17-7 and 7-5 in the NJAC, and claimed second place in the NJAC North Division. NJCU falls to 4-19 and 0-11 in conference play. Montclair leads the all-time series, 48-3 and the Hawks have won the last 17 meetings.
 
Montclair committed just seven turnovers in the entire contest (three in the second half) while recording 17 steals. Meanwhile, MSU demonstrated good ball movement, recording an assist on 20 of 31 baskets. 
 
For the Red Hawks, rookie forward Melissa Tobie (Elizabeth, NJ/Roselle Catholic) scored a team-high 15 points (7-16 FG), while adding six steals and three blocks in 22 minutes. Junior forward Taylor Jeffers (Franklin Township, NJ/Franklin) came off the bench to contribute 13 points, nine rebounds (seven defensive) and three steals while senior guard Jaime Ericson (Flemington, NJ/Hunterdon Central) tallied 12 points, five assists and four rebounds.
 
Also for Montclair, junior forward Colleen Kelly (Rockaway, NJ/Morris Hills) grabbed seven rebounds, while adding six points, three assists and two blocks. Junior guard Michelle Montagna (New Providence, NJ/New Providence) added seven points (3-6 FG).
 
Hernaiz finished with game highs of 16 points (7-13 FG) and 12 rebounds (10 defensive) in 38 minutes.  Rookie guard JADE MEDLEY (Queens, NY/Hudson Catholic) chipped in eight points and three rebounds while junior forward MAXINE KAMINSKI (Kearny, NJ/Kearny) supplied seven points and four rebounds. Junior forward KERRI CASSARELLO (Keansburg, NJ/Keansburg) collected seven rebounds, six points and four assists in 29 reserve minutes.

In a first half with three ties in the opening five minutes, the Red Hawks converted the Gothic Knights giveaways into a 22-4 margin in points off turnovers in the period. Tobie had 13 of her 15 points in the period. MSU, leading 18-12, scored 10 of the next 12 points, including six points by Tobie, to push the lead into double figures and led 28-14 with 4:31 to play. Montclair led double figures the rest of the game and held a 13-point advantage at halftime, 35-22.
 
Ahead 39-28 with 17:19 left in the second half, MSU put the game out of reach with an 11-0 run to build a 50-28 differential with 11:32 left. Montclair led by 17 with 2:35 left in the contest, 59-42, before adding the final 11 points of the night with the outcome of the game already decided. The 28-point final margin was the hosts' largest lead of the game.
 
NJCU will play the final road game of the 2011-12 season when it visits #6/6 ranked William Paterson University on Saturday, February 11 at 2 p.m. in Wayne, NJ.