New Jersey City University Athletics

Box Score GAME NOTES/PROGRAM: Gothic Knight Insights feature, DESEREE JOHNSON

JERSEY CITY, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Junior shooting guard JADE MEDLEY (Queens, NJ/Hudson Catholic) scored a career-high 18 points, including four consecutive three-pointers in the final four minutes of the first half to stake New Jersey City University to an 11-point lead at halftime and junior point guard ASHLEY VAZQUEZ (Jersey City, NJ/Marist)  added 11 of her 16 in the second half as NJCU posted a lopsided 69-50 New Jersey Athletic Conference win over Rutgers University-Camden on January 15 at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (Coach Charlie Brown Court).
 
NJCU (5-10, 2-6 NJAC) snapped a four-game losing streak by shooting 45.8 percent overall (27-59) and doing so consistently in each period while getting prolific three-point accuracy, making 41.2 percent (7-of-17) from beyond the arc. Camden (3-9, 0-8 NJAC) remained winless in the league and shot 28.6 percent in the game (16-56).
 
NJCU committed only 10 turnovers and while Camden's giveaways were not high (16), the Knights took advantage of a majority, producing an incredible 25-3 differential in points off turnovers. NJCU outscored R-C on the fast break, 12-0.
 
Medley equaled her career high in the first half alone when she shot 4-of-6 from three-point range before concluding her night with a game-best 18 points (6-12 FG, 4-9 3FG, 2-2 FT) and four assists in 27 minutes. It was her fifth double-digit scoring effort of the season and 14^th of her career.
 
Vazquez scored in double figures for the 14^th time in 15 games this season and 32^nd time in 40 career NJCU outings, finishing with 16 points (7-13 FG, 2-5 3FG) and three assists in 37 minutes. Sophomore guard KIANA BRIGGS (Paterson, NJ/Passaic County Tech) delivered eight points (4-10 FG) and five assists.
 
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, had an all-around solid effort with eight rebounds (seven defensive), seven points on only five shots (2-5 FG, 3-4 FT), four assists and three steals before fouling out in 30 minutes. Three other NJCU players had at least five points.
 
Junior guard Alex Gravinese (Audubon, NJ/Audubon) led the Scarlet Raptors with 16 points (5-11 FG), including 4-of-8 three-point shooting and four assists in 38 minutes.
 
R-C also received 13 points (4-11 FG) and five rebounds from junior center Tanjae Lewis (Magnolia, NJ/Sterling) while sophomore forward Michelle Onu (Cherry Hill, NJ/Cherry Hill East) had a near double-double of 14 rebounds (eight offensive), nine points (4-19 FG) and five blocks in 35 minutes. The top three Camden scorers accounted for 38 of its 50 points. Junior guard Irene Grimanis (Brooklawn, NJ/Gloucester) hauled in 10 boards.
 
"Jade was huge in giving us a nice lead going into half time," exclaimed third-year head coach Amy Mulligan. "She really played well and made some great moves and good decisions when she swung the ball. Ashley made some critical shots to help us in the second half and really pressured their guards on defense."
 
"I think overall we played a great game on both ends of the floor! It was a well-balanced attack. We had contributions from many different people and [freshman center] ZIYADAH WILLIAMS [Jersey City, NJ/University Academy Charter, 5 points] did a wonderful job on the defensive end in the second half on their bigs . Having 17 assists for us really shows the teamwork that occurred tonight."
 
In all, NJCU had assists on 17 of 27 baskets and the Knights shot 5-of-11 from three-point range in the first half behind Medley. Camden scored the first six points of the game before NJCU answered with a 15-3 run to seize a 15-9 lead at 13:01. R-C kept it close, cutting it to 15-13 on a three by Gravinese with 10:46 to go and 19-17 with 7:03 left.
 
From there, Medley helped ignite a 10-2 run. Her three with 3:49 to go in the period made it 26-17 and on NJCU's next shot with 2:35 left she buried another triple for a 29-19 cushion. Two more treys with 2:10 and 46 seconds remaining made it a 35-24 halftime advantage.
 
Camden put together a mini-rally early in the second period and pulled within three, 41-38, when Gravinese sank a three with 14:17 on the board. This time Vazquez answered, knocking down a three followed by a steal and fast break bucket for a 46-38 edge.
 
Leading 46-41 with 12:04 to play, NJCU put the game away with a 17-1 run than spanned 7:10. Vazquez' jumper with 10:56 to go pushed the margin to 50-41 and a three-point play by Williams put the lead back into double figures for the rest of the night. Rookie guard JAZZ RANDALL (West Orange, NJ/West Orange) hit back-to-back buckets during the run. A jumper by Medley made it a 21-point, 63-42 differential before R-C finally scored another field goal with 4:56 to go. NJCU's largest lead was 22 twice in the final three minutes.
 
NJCU visits The College of New Jersey in Ewing, NJ on Saturday, January 18 at 1 p.m. in a conference road matchup.