New Jersey City University Athletics

Box Score BOX SCORE
GAME PROGRAM/NOTES: Inside-the-Athlete Feature, KIANA BRIGGS

JERSEY CITY, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New Jersey City University drew within striking distance of William Paterson University in the middle of the second half before the Pioneers pulled away for a 64-49 win in a New Jersey Athletic Conference game on January 5 at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center on “Coach Charlie  Brown Court.”
 
William Paterson, the two-time defending conference championship, improved to 9-4 and 4-2 in NJAC play while NJCU (3-10, 1-5 NJAC) dropped its fifth straight.
 
NJCU made just 7-of-31 from the field in the first half and finished the game making 27.9 percent overall (19-68) and 2-of-14 from three-point distance. The Pioneers converted 33.3 percent (21-of-63) from the field, including seven three pointers (7-19, .368), to overcome 24 turnovers.

In defeat, junior forward ALNISA HERNAIZ (Irvington, NJ/Irvington) eclipsed the 500-rebound mark for her career and reached double digits in scoring for the 21st time overall, finishing with 13 points (6-12 FG) and six rebounds.
 
“We had a hard fought battle,” said second-year coach Amy Mulligan. “Our shots didn't drop in the first half and that hurt us, but we continued to pressure and play hard throughout the game.”
 
Also for NJCU, freshman forward JIANA CLARK (Cheltenham, PA/Cheltenham) grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds (seven defensive) and scored eight points in a personal best of 22 reserve minutes.
 
“JIANA CLARK had an outstanding game all around. She hit the glass, made shots and played tough defense,” said Mulligan.
 
Also for NJCU, sophomore guard ASHLEY VAZQUEZ (Jersey City, NJ/Marist) added nine points, five rebounds and three assists while senior guard DELIA CHERNEZ (Union City, NJ/Union City) supplied eight rebounds (five offensive) and five points.
 
William Paterson was led by junior guard Floriana Borova (Cresskill, NJ/Cresskill), the leading scorer in the NJAC and a 3-time NJAC Player of the Week selection this season. She did not play in the first half before entering after NJCU threatened in the second period and scored a game-high 14 (4-9 FG, 2-3 3FG) points in just 12 reserve minutes.
 
Rookie guard Brittany Harden (Millville, NJ/Sacred Heart) tallied 13 points and six rebounds (four defensive) while junior guard Kristine Jackiewicz (Quakertown, PA/Quakertown) had nine points and nine rebounds (seven defensive).
 
Also for the Pioneers, senior guard Lindsey Callander (Branchburg, NJ/Somerville) chipped in eight points (3-5 FG), six rebounds, four assists and three steals. Sophomore forward Ashley Marfo (Bergenfield, NJ/Bergenfield) grabbed nine rebounds (six defensive) and freshman forward Shakira Negron (Paterson, NJ/Immaculate Conception) scored nine points on 4-of-5 shooting.
 
In the first half, William Paterson only shot 31.4 percent itself, but took advantage of NJCU's 22.6 percent shooting in the period and never trailed, before opening up a 28-16, 12-point cushion at the break, scoring the final six points of the period. NJCU did not score in the final 5:53 before the break.
 
NJCU did not quit in the second half as Vazquez hit a three-pointer in the opening minute of play to ignite a 10-0 run that saw the Gothic Knights pull within a basket, 28-26, with 16:34 when she would hit another jumper. Vazquez scored eight of her nine points during the run, including a three-point play.
 
NJCU's momentum was ultimately cut short when Borova entered the game with 15:06 and helped Pioneers to extend their lead to as many as 21 points on two occasions in the final minutes of play and inevitably secure the victory.
 
The big momentum swing happened after NJCU closed within two for a second time, 34-32, with 13:43 left. Borova entered for the first time at the 15:06 mark. After a Clark jumper made it a 37-34 game, Borova scored the game's next 11 consecutive points. She sank a jumper at 11:22, buried a three at 10:57, and continued to be a dominant player with another three at 10:07 to push the lead to a dozen. She hit three foul shots during the streak and WP pulled away in the final 10 minutes.
 
NJCU will seek to bounce back on Wednesday, January 9 when it heads to Camden, NJ for a 6 p.m. NJAC game at Rutgers University-Camden. The Pioneers face Manhattanville College on January 7 in Purchase, NY in a non-conference tilt.

GAME NOTES:

The Pioneers lead the all-time series, 53-9 and have won the last 21 meetings between the two schools since the 2001-02 season. NJCU's last win over William Paterson was January 26, 2002 (78-67) in Wayne, NJ. NJCU's last win over William Paterson in Jersey City was January 25, 1989 (59-47). ALNISA HERNAIZ now has 505 career rebounds. She entered the day as the NJAC leader in total rebounding with 10.2 per game.