New Jersey City University Athletics

Box Score WAYNE, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New Jersey City University only trailed William Paterson University by three at the half before the host Pioneers scored the first eight points of the second half and used an 11-2 run to pull away before downing NJCU, 71-60, in New Jersey Athletic Conference women's basketball action on January 11 at the WP Rec Center.
 
In a statistical oddity, both schools shot identically from three-point range—8-of-17 for 47.1 percent. But the Pioneers (7-7, 4-3 NJAC), evened its overall record at .500 thanks to strong rebounding. It controlled the boards, 49-31, including 21-14 on the offensive glass. NJCU (4-9, 1-6 NJAC) dropped its fourth straight conference game.
 
The loss spoiled a solid performance from junior point guard ASHLEY VAZQUEZ (Jersey City, NJ/Marist) who scored a game-high 17 points, shooting 7-of-14 overall and 3-of-6 from three-point territory. She added four boards in 33 minutes before fouling out for the first time in 38 career games. She scored in double figures for the 12^h time in 13 games this season.
 
Sophomore guard KIANA BRIGGS (Paterson, NJ/Passaic County Tech) netted 13 points (5-12), including all three three-pointers she attempted, adding five assists and four steals in 38 minutes. Junior guard JADE MEDLEY (Queens, NJ/Hudson Catholic) was the third Gothic Knight to reach double figures, scoring all 12 of her points in the first half when she was 3-of-5 from the field, 2-of-3 from three-point distance and 4-of-4 from the line.
 
Freshman forward BRIA SMITH (Bayonne, NJ/St. Dominic Academy), the reigning NJAC Player of the Week and four-time NJAC Rookie of the Week, was limited to six rebounds (five offensive) and five points (2-8 FG). Sophomore forward DESEREE JOHNSON (Red Bank, NJ/Monmouth Regional) finished with seven rebounds and six points.
 
WP was led by two-time All-NJAC standout Floriana Borova who had a near triple-double of 16 points (7-18 FG, 2-7 3FG), nine rebounds (seven defensive) and seven assists to overcome seven turnovers.
 
Dana Jeter had a double-double of 15 rebounds (nine defensive), 10 points (4-15 FG) and four assists and Brittany Harden contributed 15 points (4-6 FG), making 6-of-7 foul shots. Brittany Ennis and Kristine Jackiewicz each added eight points, knocking down a pair of threes.
 
Five of NJCU's 11 first half field goals came from three-point distance as the Knights shot 50 percent from deep in the period and it helped keep the visitors in the game. In the opening period, WP tried to open up a close game when back-to-back threes by Borova and Jackiewicz made it a 10-point advantage (18-8). Vazquez scored the next five for NJCU to make it closer but WP still led 24-16 at the midway point in the period. Briggs (8:50) and Medley (8:05) hit a pair of triples to make it a one-point game (25-24) before the Pioneers pushed the margin back to eight (34-26).
 
Briggs nailed another three with 4:01 to play and a fast break putback by Vazquez made it a one-possession game (34-31). Medley's three with 1:45 left made it a one-point contest again (35-34) before the hosts went to the break up three, 37-34.
 
But WPU stormed out of the intermission scoring the first eight points, including a three by Jeter set up by a Borova assist, who followed with a layup. Two free throws pushed the WP lead to 11, 45-34, four minutes into the period. A three by Ennis at 14:58 made the lead 12, 48-36, and the run 11-2. WP gradually increased the lead to as many as 16 at the midway point (57-41) and cruised from there. A three by Vazquez cut the deficit to single digits with 6:37 left but NJCU couldn't draw any closer.
 
"The first few minutes of the second half hurt us with turnovers and allowed second chance points," said third-year head coach Amy Mulligan. "Overall we had a much better shooting game today. Jade came out and started to get a great stroke from the three-point line. We made a hard come back but couldn't turn the corner when we needed to."
 
NJCU plays its second nationally ranked team in a week when it faces unbeaten and #12/13 ranked FDU-Florham on Monday, January 13 at 7 p.m. in non-conference action in Madison, NJ.