MAHWAH, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New Jersey City University scored the first 11 points of the game, highlighted by three straight threes and senior guard Jade Medley (Queens, NY/Hudson Catholic) had a game to remember, pouring in a career-high 25 points with five assists as NJCU never trailed and posted a convincing 86-70 New Jersey Athletic Conference women's basketball victory over Ramapo College on December 10 at the Bradley Center.

NJCU evened its record at 4-4 (1-4 NJAC), snapping a four-game skid while sending Ramapo (3-5, 0-5 NJAC) to its fifth straight defeat. The Gothic Knights also ended Ramapo's nine-game winning streak in the series, picking up its first win over the Roadrunners since January 20, 2010 (58-55, at Mahwah).
 

Medley, a two-sport star who finished her women's volleyball career with 1,004 kills, became the first athlete in NJCU women's sports history to have a 25-kill performance (October 22, 2011 at CCNY) in volleyball and a 25-point showing in basketball as she posted just sensational numbers. Medley shot 5-for-8 from the field—highlighted by lights-out 5-for-7 three-point proficiency—and 10-for-13 free throw prowess in 33 minutes.

Medley's career-high free throw shooting marked the second straight game a Gothic Knight has converted double digits in foul shots after sophomore power forward Bria Smith (Bayonne, NJ/St. Dominic Academy) established a single-game school record with 15-for-17 free throw shooting on December 6 against Rowan. Medley is the 35th known player in school history to have scored 25 points in a game at least once. She scored 12 in the first half and 13 in the second.

Medley's day was indicative of NJCU's entire shooting effort. The Knights equaled a school record for made three pointers in a game, sinking 10-for-18 from three-point distance (.556), including a staggering 70 percent (7-for-10) in the first half and 81.1 percent foul shooting.

In a game with 55 combined fouls, NJCU also buried a school-record 30-of-37 from the stripe, including 24-of-30 in the second half. Ramapo was awarded 40 free throws, shooting 65.0 percent (26-40).

Smith produced her third consecutive double-double, fifth of the season and 15th of her career, finishing with 12 rebounds (nine defensive), 10 points (5-9 FG) and two steals before fouling out in 37 minutes.

Also for NJCU, junior forward Deseree Johnson (Red Bank, NJ/Monmouth Regional), who had scored just 16 points in her first four injury-plagued games this season, collected a career-high 14 points, shooting 3-of-6 from three-point range. She added eight rebounds and three assists in 26 minutes. Sophomore point guard Jazz Randall (Parsippany, NJ/West Orange) finished with 10 points (4-10 FG) and three assists. Freshman Shekinah Suber (Jersey City, NJ/Lincoln) scored nine points in 18 reserve minutes, hitting 7-of-8 from the line. Senior point guard Mesha Laguerre (Union, NJ/Union) added nine points (2-4 FG), making 5-of-6 at the stripe.

The loss spoiled a terrific individual scoring effort for Ramapo's Jackie Jerkovich, who notched a game-high 32 points on 8-of-16 shooting (4-8 threes) and 12-of-16 from the line. She added five rebounds, four steals and three assists in 34 minutes. No other Roadrunner had more than eight points. Bintou Berete hauled in 11 rebounds (seven defensive) with six points.

Before Ramapo could blink, NJCU led 11-0 as Johnson buried a three on the first possession, Medley hit another (19:02) and Johnson drilled a third to make it 9-0 just 2:21 into the action; Medley assisted on both Johnson triples. A jumper by Randall, also assisted by Medley, made it 11-0 at the 17:17 mark.

From there, NJCU cruised. Another 10-0 run elevated the lead to 15, as the Knights led 21-6 with 12:25 to play. Smith scored six of the 10. Ramapo got no closer than six the rest of the half (24-18), before NJCU pushed the lead back to double figures. It's largest differential was 16 when Medley buried three foul shots with 25 seconds to go in the half after being hit beyond the arc, for a 39-23 lead. The margin was 39-25 at halftime.

NJCU twice led by 20 in the second half, the last with 13:36 to play on a jumper by Smith (54-34) and the advantage remained in double figures for most of the rest of the night. With under three minutes to play, Ramapo was able to draw within seven points but NJCU quickly iced it from the line, scoring the final nine points of the contest. Four different NJCU players combined to convert 11 of 12 foul shots in the final 90 seconds.

QUOTES:

NJCU head coach Amy Mulligan (fourth season)

On the win: "We came out with a lot of energy and composure tonight! As a team we had people step up every time we needed it. This game was a huge win for us and we did the little things tonight which made a huge difference."

On Jade Medley's effort: "Jade played an amazing game on both sides of the floor. This was the best I have seen her play."

On other standout efforts: "Des got us going in both halves. Bria rebounded strong and knocked down the 12-footer in a big way. Mesha stepped on for Jazz who had a great game. Shekinah really came up big at the end with her free throw shooting."

OF NOTE:

• 64th meeting. Ramapo leads the all-time series, 37-27.

• Jade Medley collected her 25th career double-digit scoring effort and fifth of the season. It was her third career 20-point effort. Her previous career scoring high was 20 points—in the 2014 season finale—February 19—at Rutgers University-Camden, and equaled this season on November 19 at John Jay.

• Bria Smith reached double figures in scoring for the 22nd time in 32 career games and the seventh time in eight games this year.

• Smith hauled in double digits in rebounding for the 20th time as a collegian and fifth time this season.

• Deseree Johnson netted her eighth career double-digit scoring effort.

• Jazz Randall tied her career high with 10 points for the third time this season.

• NJCU registered a season-high in points (previous high was 75, at John Jay, November 19), foul shots (previous high was 24 vs. Rowan, December 6) and three-pointers made (previous high was five, twice).

• NJCU scored 80 points in a game for the first time since also scoring 86 points against Ramapo on February 6, 2008 (Won, 86-46, in Jersey City).

• NJCU is 42-1 all-time when scoring at least 80 points in a game.

• The 30 made free throws are believed to be a single-game school record based on all available evidence. The previous high of which a box score exists was on January 5, 2001 when NJCU shot 27-for-44 (.615) at Centenary.

• The 10 made three-pointers matched the single-game school record of 10, last achieved vs. William Paterson on February 16, 2008 (10-23) and first established at CCNY (January 30, 2008, 10-19).

WHAT'S NEXT?

On Saturday, December 13, NJCU closes the 2014 portion of its schedule with a road non-conference game against Skyline Conference opponent Purchase College at 12 p.m.. It will be the first-ever meeting between NJCU and the Panthers (2-5).

Update (Thurs. December 11, 2:26 p.m.): The NJCU/Purchase game has been moved to Jersey City due to an issue with the clock at Purchase College. The game will begin at 12 p.m. at NJCU's John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center.

—www.njcugothicknights.com—