JERSEY CITY, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New Jersey City University fell behind big in the first half but rallied in the second to pull within one point with 10 minutes remaining before Kean University overcame both a resilient Gothic Knights squad and a huge double-double effort from sophomore power forward Bria Smith (Bayonne, NJ/St. Dominic Academy), in a 79-71 result in the New Jersey Athletic Conference opener for both teams on November 22.
 
Smith, the 2014 NJAC Rookie of the Year, posted her fifth career 20-point scoring performance while matching her career-high with 29 points on 10-of-20 shooting—burying the first two three pointers she attempted this season—and 7-of-8 free throw accuracy while seizing 13 rebounds (11 defensive) in 36 minutes. She produced her 12^th career double-double and second in a row.
 
But NJCU (3-1, 0-1 NJAC), which was making its home debut on 'Coach Charlie Brown Court', suffered its first loss of the season despite battling a Kean squad (3-1, 1-0 NJAC) which was picked to finish third in the preseason NJAC poll.
 
Freshman guard Irelynn Donovan (Coatesville, PA/Coatesville), who had tallied just 15 points in her first three collegiate games, netted 14 points (4-10 FG, 5-8 FT) in 34 minutes off the bench.
 
Junior guard Kiana Briggs (Paterson, NJ/Passaic County Tech) collected 10 points, seven rebounds and four assists in 37 minutes. Senior shooting guard Jade Medley (Queens, NJ/Hudson Catholic) struggled from the field but swatted four blocks and finished with eight points.
 Kean 6-foot-0 freshman Najha Treadwell (Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) chalked up 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting with seven rebounds. Junior forward Jazmine Davis (Tinton Falls, NJ/Monmouth Regional) had 13 rebounds (11 defensive), six points and three assists.
 
Also contributing in the Cougar win was sophomore guard Jaquetta Owens (Newark, NJ/Bloomfield Tech) with 11 points and three assists and freshman guard Deserai Vazquez (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) added 10 points (4-8 FG, 2-6 3FG). Senior guard Shanice Jones (Newark, NJ/Newark Tech) overcame seven turnovers with eight points, seven boards and five assists.
 
NJCU, which shot 23.7 percent in the first half (9-38) and 29.7 percent for the game (22-74), missed its first nine shots of the game and fell behind early, 9-0. NJCU clawed back within three (11-8) on a Donovan three before Kean utilized another run—a 12-1 advantage over a span of 4:01—to build a 23-9 differential. Four different Cougars accounted for the dozen points. Still down 12 with 2:54 to play, a fast-break jumper by Donovan, a three-point play by Medley and offensive board and putback by Smith who scored 12 in the opening period, made it a tight, five-point, 37-32 difference at the half despite Kean shooting 46.9 percent in the period (15-32).
 
Kean pushed the lead back to 10 five minutes into the second half but NJCU again countered, and when Smith  buried her first three pointer of the season from the right arc with 10:13 left, the deficit was one, 56-55.
 
But Kean responded with nine straight points and Owens, who had a steal and fast break layup earlier in the run, hit a three with 7:37 left before Kean regained a 10-point (65-55) cushion with two foul shots. From there, NJCU couldn't get closer than five (71-66) and the Cougars took advantage of some key missed shots by the Knights to fend off any further comebacks by the home team.
 
QUOTES:
NJCU head coach Amy Mulligan (fourth season)
 
On the effort: "It was a hard-fought game. We had a few missed opportunities but we fought and that was key. Bria played to a high level and we saw great contributions from Irelynn and Kiana. I think this team is definitely headed in the right direction."
 
OF NOTE:

• Kean leads the all-time series, 47-12; NJCU had won three of the last four meetings.
• Bria Smith reached double figures in scoring for the 18^th time for her career—third time this season—and had double digits in rebounding for the 17^th time as a collegian and second time this  season.
• Kiana Briggs reached double figures in scoring for the third time in four games this season, the 21st in her career and 18^th time in her last 29 games.
• NJCU was without two starting captains (Deseree Johnson, Ashley Vazquez) for the third game in a row.

 
WHAT'S NEXT?
In the final game prior to the Thanksgiving break, the Knights host rival Rutgers University-Newark in an NJAC contest on Tuesday, November 25 at 6 p.m. on 'Coach Charlie Brown Court.' RUN (1-2, 0-0 NJAC) is returning from a two-game (0-2) trip to Washington State. Newark leads the all-time series, 44-21 and has won the last eight meetings. It will be the 66^th meeting between the clubs.