New Jersey City University Athletics

Box Score UNION, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New Jersey City University four-time New Jersey Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week and forward BRIA SMITH (Bayonne, NJ/St. Dominic Academy) posted an incredible double career high effort of 23 points and 19 rebounds but the outburst wasn't enough as Kean University held off NJCU, 61-54, in an NJAC women's basketball game on January 4 at Harwood Arena.
 
NJCU, which swept Kean (6-5, 3-2 NJAC) last season, dropped to 4-7 and 1-4 in the league. The Knights led by as many as seven in the opening period before the host Cougars unleashed an 11-0 run while concluding the first period by scoring 13 of the final 17 points. The Knights challenged Kean for much of the second half until another home run gave the Cougars back a decisive lead.
 
Smith scored the most points by a Gothic Knight since the 2011-12 season while registering her seventh double-double of the season, finishing with 43 percent of NJCU's scoring on 9-of-19 shooting (5-7 FT) to account for her 23 points. Meanwhile, 11 of her 19 rebounds were offensive and she added both of NJCU's blocks. Her previous highs were 17 points and 17 rebounds. She collected six points and 10 boards in the first half before being responsible for half of NJCU's second-half scoring, finishing with 17 points (7-11 FG) and nine rebounds in the period.

Sophomore forward DESEREE JOHNSON (Red Bank, NJ/Monmouth Regional) contributed nine points (4-10 FG) and eight caroms for NJCU while junior guard ASHLEY VAZQUEZ (Jersey City, NJ/Marist) added eight points in a full 40 minutes in an off shooting day.
 
Kean's Jaquetta Owens led the Cougars with 16 points (5-10 FG) while Jazmine Davis recorded a double-double showing of 12 rebounds (seven defensive) and 11 points. Simone Smith matched her teammate with 12 rebounds, adding nine points and two blocks. Kenya Adams finished with nine points (3-6 FG), eight rebounds (seven defensive) and two blocks. AnnaRose Pierre tacked on six points, six steals and three blocks before fouling out. Kean had eight blocks as a team.
 
Both sides struggled shooting the basketball; Kean was 33.8 percent from the field (22-65) and just 1-of-10 (.100) from three-point range. NJCU was 19-of-64 from the floor (.297) and slightly more successful than Kean from three-point distance (3-13, .231).
 
NJCU jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead in the first 2:39 of action after Johnson sank a three and led 10-6 on a Vazquez triple before Kean tied it at 10-10 with 11:34 to go and 12-12 at 10:38. Four free throws put NJCU back in front, 16-12 with 9:22 left in the half.
 
Kean would unleash an 11-0 run, holding NJCU scoreless until a Johnson basket with 2:58 remaining—a span of 6:24. In between Pierre sank consecutive jumpers to tie it and put the Cougars in front and Owens hit a three at 5:25 before Adams added a field goal. Kean would take a 25-20 margin to the half.
 
NJCU scored eight of the first 10 points of the second half, regaining its final lead of the day, 28-27, with 17:23 to go as a Smith steal and feed led to a Johnson jumper. Davis put Kean back in front with back-to-back buckets and the Cougars maintained a slim lead. Smith kept NJCU close with consecutive baskets and the Knights were down one, 35-34, with 12:22 to go.
 
But another scoring run gave Kean an advantage it wouldn't relinquish as the Cougars reeled off 10 straight points to seize a 45-34 cushion with 8:05 to play. Owens scored at 11:45 and 10:46 to set the run in motion before Stephanie Carlone scored two of her seven points in the game.
 
The Cougars would maintain a double-digit lead for most of the remainder of the game, pushing the advantage to 16 (59-43) with 2:42 to go. NJCU would finish the game on an 11-2 run, cutting the deficit to as little as six with 19 seconds remaining but did not have enough time to complete a comeback bid.
 
NJCU will return to home court action on Wednesday, January 8 at 6 p.m. when it faces a stiff test from No. 11 ranked and defending NJAC champion Montclair State University (11-1, 5-0 NJAC).