New Jersey City University Athletics

Box Score BOX SCORE
GAME PROGRAM/NOTES: Inside-the-Athlete, DELIA CHERNEZ

JERSEY CITY, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Rutgers-Newark opened the second half on a 14-3 run over the first nine minutes and managed to push past New Jersey City University, 54-41, in New Jersey Athletic Conference women's basketball action on January 23 at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center on 'Coach Charlie Brown Court.'
 
Rutgers-Newark (13-6, 7-4 NJAC) won for the sixth straight meeting between the two schools as NJCU fell to 4-15 (1-10 NJAC).

Neither squad shot well, with R-N (32.7 percent, 18-55) slightly outpacing NJCU (.313, 15-48), but the Raiders used 16 offensive rebounds to chalk up a 20-3 margin in second chance points.
 
While both teams committed an excess of turnovers—29 for NJCU; 22 for R-N—the Raiders stifling defense capitalized, scoring 61 percent of its points in the game off giveaways—a 33-9 differential.
 
In defeat, sophomore point guard ASHLEY VAZQUEZ (Jersey City, NJ/Marist) scored 13 points (5-8 FG) and had three assists and three steals for her 14^th double-digit scoring effort in 19 games as a Gothic Knight and led the club in both scoring and assists for the 10th time this year.
 
Senior forward MAXINE KAMINSKI (Kearny, NJ/Kearny) entered the game with just five points over her last nine games but took advantage of her first start since January 5 by matching a season-high with 11 points, making 3-of-8 from long range and drawing four charges on defense.
 
“Maxine played a phenomenally tough game today, taking as many charges as she did was inspirational to how hard you should play and what you are willing to sacrifice for your team,” said second-year coach Amy Mulligan. “She really helped to contain their post and offensively helped execute the plays and take the smart shot. She had a tremendous all-around game.”
 
Senior guard GABRIELLE RIVERA (Teaneck, NJ/Saint Joseph of the Palisades) came off the bench to add 10 rebounds (seven offensive), seven points and two steals. NJCU was playing without junior forward ALNISA HERNAIZ (Irvington, NJ/Irvington), the NJAC's leading rebounder (10.3 per game).
 
Rutgers-Newark was led by junior guard ShaQuanna Marshall (Paterson, NJ/Paterson Catholic) with a game-high 17 points (4-6 3FG), three assists and two steals. Junior forward Jasmine Daniels (Lodi, NJ/Lodi) supplied 14 rebounds (eight offensive), eight points, six assists and two steals in 35 minutes while junior forward Jewell Palmer (Port Reading, NJ/Woodbridge) tallied 10 points and three steals.
 
Rutgers-Newark jumped out to an 11-3 lead before NJCU reeled off a 10-0 run, capped by three-pointers by Kaminski (12:37) and Vazquez (12:02) to claim a 13-11 advantage. Tied at 15-15, Vazquez had a steal and running fast-break jumper off the window and senior guard/forward KERRI CASSARELLO (Keansburg, NJ/Keansburg) rolled off a screen to make it 19-15 with 7:04 left. R-N scored the final next seven points to gain a 22-19 edge at the break. Marshall tied the game with 2:44 to go before Palmer stole a ball under basket with 2:03 left and was fouled, converting a three-point play heading into the half.
 
NJCU wasn't able to put two successful halves of basketball together in yet another loss, as R-N outplayed the hosts for much of the second period before leading by as many as 19.
 
Rutgers-Newark scored the first six points of the second half, pushing the lead to nine on consecutive jumpers by Palmer before Marshall drilled threes with 14:22 and 11:27 remaining, for a 14-point, 36-22 margin
 
NJCU's first basket of the second half came 3:32 into the action and the Knights did not score again until the 10:34 mark. Once R-N built a double-digit lead it began to pull away. NJCU could only get as close as nine points with 7:24 to go on a Kaminski three (42-33).
 
The Raiders unleashed a 10-0 run and put the game out of reach as it pulled out to a 52-33 lead with 4:45 left. Marshall scored the final five points, including a three and two foul shots before the Raiders prevailed by 13.
 
NJCU is back on the court on Saturday, January 26, at 1 p.m. when it visits Kean University in a non-conference game at Harwood Arena.