New Jersey City University Athletics

Box Score SALEM, MA (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New Jersey City University and Norwich University, meeting for the first time in 15 years, played a tightly-contested 40-minute game but NJCU was unable to thwart a 36-point performance by the Cadets' Aliah Curry (Windsor, MA), in a 63-59 setback in the consolation game of the Salem State Tip-Off Tournament on November 16 at Twohig Gymnasium.
 
Norwich (1-1) scored nearly half of its points from the line, shooting 23-of-30 overall (.767), led by Curry who sank 16-of-18 foul shots and nine field goals (9-24) while contributing five rebounds and three assists. She was one of three Cadets to play a full 40 minutes.
 
The 36 points are the most by an opponent since Lauren Cargill of City College of New York netted 43 on December 30, 2001 and the first 30-point effort by any opposing player since December 11, 2004.
 
NJCU (0-2) lost both games in the tournament by a combined seven points and fell despite a commanding 18-4 differential in points off turnovers. However, NJCU was whistled for 26, versus just 14 Norwich fouls. In contrast to Norwich's 30 free throw attempts, NJCU was allotted just seven opportunities from the line.
 
In defeat, four Gothic Knights scored in double figures for the second straight outing. Junior point guard ASHLEY VAZQUEZ (Jersey City, NJ/Marist) played a full 40 minutes and netted 15 points in back-to-back games, shooting 6-of-11 from the field and 2-of-3 from three-point territory, while adding a career-high eight rebounds and three assists.
 
Sophomore guard KIANA BRIGGS (Paterson, NJ/Passaic County Tech) established a career-high with 15 points (7-17 FG)—her fifth career effort of double figures in scoring, while collecting six rebounds and five assists in 36 minutes. Sophomore forward DESEREE JOHNSON (Red Bank, NJ/Monmouth Regional) chipped in 12 points and junior guard JADE MEDLEY (Queens, NJ/Hudson Catholic) proved 10 points (4-9 FG), five rebounds and four steals.
 
Freshman forward BRIA SMITH (Bayonne, NJ/St. Dominic Academy), who had 17 points and 17 rebounds in her collegiate debut in round one of the tournament, tallied five points and five rebounds in 22 minutes of foul trouble. She was named to the All-Tournament Team for her two-game effort, joining Curry on the team.
 
Also for the Cadets, Heather LeBlanc (Sanford, ME) had a double-double with 11 rebounds (seven defensive) and 10 points (4-6 FG) while Kelsey Lotti (South Yarmouth, MA) totaled 11 points, seven rebounds and three assists in 40 minutes of court time.
 
Norwich shot 13-of-31 in the first half (.419) but struggled in the second period, making just 6-of-28 from the field (.214) and 0-for-7 from three-point range. But the Cadets shot 19-of-22 from the line in the period, sinking 86.4 percent from the stripe where the game was ultimately won.
 
Norwich raced out of a 9-2 first half lead behind Curry, who scored her team's first seven points and she hit another three for an 18-11 margin before NJCU battled back to tie it at 22-22. Two more ties ensued at 27-27 and 29-29 LeBlanc gave the Cadets a three-point, 32-29 cushion at the half.
 
Back-to-back jumpers by Briggs gave NJCU its first lead, 35-32, early in the second half and another basket by Smith handed the Gothic Knights their largest lead, 38-32 with 16:54 remaining. However, trailing 40-34, Curry scored eight of her team's next 11 points, including six from the line, to reclaim the lead for Norwich at 45-43.
 
In a game that saw nine ties and eight lead changes, including deadlocks at 43, 45, 47, and 52, Medley drilled a three to put NJCU on top, 55-52. But Norwich tied it with three free throws and Lotti hit back-to-back baskets to put Norwich in front for good, 59-55, at the end of a 7-0 run. A jumper by Vazquez pulled NJCU to with two at 61-59, but Kristin Brown (Williamstown, VT) hit two free throws to seal the 63-59 win for the Cadets.
 
NJCU will open its 2013-14, 12-game home schedule on Tuesday, November 19 at 6 p.m. when it hosts John Jay College in a non-conference game on 'Coach Charlie Brown Court' at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center.