HACKETTSTOWN, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Seven players scored between seven and 10 points in a balanced attack and New Jersey City University—which led by as many as 16 points in the second half—held off a late surge by the host Cyclones to capture the championship of the Centenary College Tip-Off Tournament on November 16, knocking off Centenary, 61-54. It was the first tournament champion for the Gothic Knight women's basketball team since the 2005-06 season.
 

NJCU is 2-0 to start a season for the first time since 2005-06 when it won the St. Mary's College Tournament to open that campaign. Junior guard Kiana Briggs (Paterson, NJ/Passaic County Tech), who scored 25 points in two games, was tabbed as the tournament Most Valuable Player.
 
Freshman center Sharaunda Fiedtkou (West Orange, NJ/Bayonne), who didn't factor into NJCU's tournament opening win but was instrumental down the stretch in the win over Centenary (1-1), scoring nine points (4-5 FG) with seven rebounds in 24 minutes, claimed the Knights' second All-Tournament Team nod.
 
NJCU never trailed and led 24-16 at halftime—its largest lead of the opening period—as Briggs netted the final four points of the stanza and pushed the lead to 10 when sophomore point guard Jazz Randall (Parsippany, NJ/West Orange) scored on a second chance on the opening possession of the second half. Randall scored six points on three buckets in a span of 65 seconds to push the lead to 14 (37-23). The Knights led by 16 three times—the latter being 43-27 on a jumper by Briggs, and the lead stood at a dozen, 51-39, with 5:42 to play as Fiedtkou hit a shot. She scored all nine of her points in the second half.
 
Centenary made a game of it in the final minutes, utilizing a 13-2 run to make it one-point game with 2:53 to play when Kim Osieja, with a chance to tie it, hit the back end of two foul shots. The Cyclones got back in the game thanks to eight straight points by Taylor Pryslak, including back-to-back three pointers.
 
However NJCU would secure the win as sophomore power forward Bria Smith (Bayonne, NJ/St. Dominic Academy) put back a third chance on the glass. After a foul shot made it a 56-52 lead, Fiedtkou again capitalized on the putback of an offensive rebound for a six-point margin with 42 seconds to go. Senior point guard Mesha Laguerre (Union, NJ/Union) and Briggs iced it from the line as NJCU secured the win with eight of the final 10 points.
 
Randall scored a career-high 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting to lead NJCU, adding five rebounds to support Fiedtkou's effort of nine and seven. Briggs collected nine points and two assists and Laguerre finished with eight points, five steals and five rebounds. Smith finished with nine points and four rebounds in 15 minutes before fouling out. Senior guard Jade Medley (Queens, NY/Hudson Catholic) and freshman guard Irelynn Donovan (Coatesville, PA/Coatesville) each chipped in seven points.
 Mallory George led the Cyclones with a game-high 15 points (6-12 FG) before also fouling out in 34 minutes and Rachel Edwards netted 10 points (4-11 FG, 2-6 3FG) in 30 minutes. Pryslak scored all eight of her points (3-6 FG, 2-2 3FG) during the late rally bid, adding six boards.
 
QUOTES:
NJCU head coach Amy Mulligan (fourth season)
 
On winning the tournament: "We stuck together when they made a run and kept our composure. We attacked from every position and really made them work defensively. This was a big team win tonight with seven players scoring between seven and 10 points."
 
On Kiana Briggs winning the MVP: "Kiana just did a great all-around job with tough defense. She made some key baskets and really did a lot of little things today. She really stepped up and became a leader in this tournament."
 
OF NOTE:

• NJCU leads the all-time series, 7-1.
• Jazz Randall scored in double figures for the first time in her career. Her previous high was seven points vs. Kean on February 1, 2014.
• Starters Deseree Johnson and Ashley Vazquez did not play for NJCU.

 
WHAT'S NEXT?
NJCU will visit John Jay College in a non-conference road game at the Dog Pound in New York, NY on November 19 (6 p.m.).  NJCU defeated the Bloodhounds in the last meeting on November 19, 2013 in Jersey City, 62-56. NJCU leads the all-time series, 10-6. The Knights will be seeking their first 3-0 start to a season since opening the 1974-75 season at 5-0.