New Jersey City University Athletics

Box Score MADISON, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Junior point guard ASHLEY VAZQUEZ (Jersey City, NJ/Marist) exceeded 500 career points in only 39 games for New Jersey City University but the Gothic Knights didn't have an answer for an undefeated and nationally-ranked Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham squad that committed just six turnovers, falling 87-52 in a non-conference women's basketball game on January 13.
 
The game was the third straight for NJCU (4-10) against a team that reached the 2013 NCAA Tournament and was ranked in the 2013-14 preseason national poll. NJCU also dropped its fourth in a row. FDU-Florham improved to 13-0, entering the game ranked No. 12 in Division III in the USA Today Sports Top 25 Coaches Poll and No. 13 by D3hoops.com.
 
Vazquez scored in double figures for the 13^th time in 14 games this season and 31^st time in 39 career NJCU outings, finishing with 10 points (3-11 FG), eight rebounds (seven defensive), four assists and two steals in 32 minutes, giving her 501 career points in less than two seasons in Jersey City.
 
The final score was not indicative of the first 30 minutes of the action as FDU scored 17 of the final 19 points of the game covering the last 7:17 of action and the final score was the Devils' largest margin (+35). NJCU trailed by nine at halftime (36-27) and pulled within six, 38-32, on a three by Vazquez at 17:28. With NJCU down 10, 53-42, with 12:49 to play FDU pushed the advantage to 63-48 with 9:17 to go. The Devils outscored NJCU 24-4 from that point.
 
In defeat, freshman forward BRIA SMITH (Bayonne, NJ/St. Dominic Academy), a four-time New Jersey Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week and one-time NJAC Player of the Week, grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds and added eight points (4-7 FG) and two blocks in 23 minutes before fouling out. She was one of three Gothic Knight starters to foul out as NJCU was whistled for nearly twice as many fouls as FDU (28-15).
 
Sophomore guard KIANA BRIGGS (Paterson, NJ/Passaic County Tech) finished with 10 points (2-4 3FG) and senior forward ALNISA HERNAIZ (Irvington, NJ/Irvington) totaled seven points (2-5 FG).
 
FDU, which outscored NJCU 51-25 in the second half, committed just two turnovers in the period. The Devils had a 31-10 margin in made free throws in the win and were awarded 43 total foul shots, converting 72.1 percent (31-43). FDU shot 23-of-30 from the foul line in the second half (.767). The officials issued three technical fouls on the Knights.
 
FDU had four players score in double figures. Preseason Second-Team D3hoops.com All-America selection Kyra Dayon had 12 points (3-8 FG), including 6-of-8 from the line, adding five rebounds and three assists. Randi Jo Farrell matched her with a game-high 12 points (4-8 FG), shooting 4-of-7 from three-point range.
 
The Devils also received 10 points, six rebounds and four assists from Jalessa Lewis, who was 8-of-10 from the line. Delisha Thompson added 10 points (3-7 FG, 4-5 FT) and six rebounds in 18 reserve minutes. FDU's bench outscored NJCU's reserves, 44-13. Shalette Brown, Leigh-Ann Lively, Melissa DeHaas and Rachel Groom each collected eight points.
 
NJCU is back in NJAC action on Wednesday, January 15 at 6 p.m. when it hosts Rutgers University-Camden at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center.