New Jersey City University Athletics

Box Score GAME PROGRAM/NOTES: Gothic Knight Insights, ASYRA MURCHISON

JERSEY CITY, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | In the first-ever home match-up of East Coast/West Coast teams in New Jersey City University athletics history, the University of Redlands (Calif.) used its distinct size advantage to its benefit in the first half, seizing a 36-26 halftime margin, and despite second half shooting difficulties held on to outlast NJCU, 61-50, in non-conference women's basketball on December 18 at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center on 'Coach Charlie Brown Court.'
 
Redlands (6-2), playing the first game of a four-day, three-game New York City area holiday trip, won its fourth game in a row while facing NJCU (3-6) for the first time. NJCU had never hosted a team from California in any sport in its history.
 
The Bulldogs featured nine players of 5-foot-10 stature or greater and shot 42.4 percent in the first half (14-33), including 4-of-10 from three-point range. The visitors shooting percentage fell to 14.3 percent in the second half (4-28), but was UR was able to put the game away with 19-of-25 free throw shooting (.760), highlighted by 15-of-20 converted in the second half.
 
The loss spoiled a brilliant effort from NJCU three-time New Jersey Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week and forward BRIA SMITH (Bayonne, NJ/St. Dominic Academy) who registered her fifth double-double of the season and seventh effort of double-figure boards, finishing with 16 points (6-14 FG), 10 rebounds, six blocks and four steals in 37 minutes. She scored 11 of NJCU's 26 first half markers.
 
Redlands senior forward Brittany Oster (Agoura Hills, CA) paced the Bulldogs with a double-double of 14 rebounds (nine defensive), 11 points, and two assists in 24 minutes while senior guard Marika Staton (El Centro, CA) finished with 12 points (3-11 FG, 2-8 3FG) in 23 reserve minutes. The Redlands reserves outscored the NJCU bench, 24-6.
 
Also for Redlands, junior guard Kameran Dage (Walnut Creek, CA) hit 3-of-5 from three-point distance (4-9 FG) to finish with 11 points. Senior guard Colleen Goeser (San Carlos, CA) delivered eight points, five assists and five steals in 35 minutes. Junior guard Kaity Lykins (Simi Valley, VA) finished with eight rebounds (seven defensive).
 
In defeat, junior guard ASHLEY VAZQUEZ (Jersey City, NJ/Marist) reached double digits in scoring for the 27^th time in 34 games at NJCU, scoring 12 on 5-of-11 shooting including 2-for-2 from three-point distance. She added three steals in a shade under 40 minutes.
 
Sophomore shooting guard KIANA BRIGGS (Paterson, NJ/Passaic County Tech) reached double figures for the seventh time this year, collecting 12 points (6-16 FG). Junior shooting guard JADE MEDLEY (Queens, NJ/Hudson Catholic) contributed four assists.
 
Senior center ALNISA HERNAIZ (Irvington, NJ/Irvington), who led the NJAC in rebounding last season (9.9 rpg) before having her season end with a knee injury after 23 games, finally returned to the NJCU lineup after 10 months of recovery time, playing 26 minutes off the bench. She had five rebounds (599 career), four points (2-5 FG) and two assists.
 
In a first half with five lead changes and three ties, Redlands clung to a two-point lead (16-14) with 11:35 to play before two baskets, including a three by Staton pushed the lead to seven. After Hernaiz drew NJCU within 23-18, Redlands scored the next seven points, including five points by Staton whose three-pointer with 4:23 left gave the guests their largest lead of the period, 30-18. She had eight points in the half.
 
After NJCU trimmed the lead to 30-24, Dage responded with two threes in the final two minutes of the half as the Bulldogs totaled six of the final eight points of the period and led by 10 at the break.
 
The lead stood at double figures for much of the second half. NJCU was able to whittle the deficit to six—45-39 with 9:16 to play—before Redlands responded with the next seven points, including a key three by junior guard Caitlin Ciardella (South San Francisco, CA) with 7:39 left, and the Bulldogs lead reached 13 (52-49) with 5:55 to go. Redlands' final 10 points of the night came from the free throw stripe.
 
NJCU will play the final game of the 2013 portion of its schedule on Saturday, December 21 at 2 p.m. when it hosts Centenary College (NJ).