New Jersey City University Athletics

Box Score GALLOWAY, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | In a breakout year for the New Jersey City University women's basketball team that has included two noteworthy routs of New Jersey Athletic Conference foes, on February 6 the Gothic Knights got another monkey off of its back. Four starters reached double figures, combining for 59 points as NJCU snapped a 21-game losing streak to Richard Stockton College, knocking off the Ospreys on their home floor, 69-66, in NJAC women's basketball action.
 
With its second straight win, NJCU improves to 8-13 and 5-9 in the NJAC—one game behind Stockton (9-11, 6-7 NJAC) in the win column in the race for the final berth in the six-team conference tournament. NJCU, which is even with Rutgers-Newark at 5-9—a team it was swept by this year—has four conference games remaining, including three against the first three teams in the league standings (Montclair State University, The College of New Jersey, William Paterson University). Its last two wins have come against schools above it in the NJAC standings, including the most lopsided win ever over Kean University on February 1.
 
The win for NJCU was its first over Stockton since a 51-40 decision in Jersey City on November 28, 1998. Meanwhile, the win was NJCU's sixth ever against the Ospreys on the road and the first in Galloway since November 27, 1996 when the Gothic Knights were still known as Jersey City State College. It was also NJCU's first-ever victory at the Stockton Sports Center.
 
Junior shooting guard JADE MEDLEY (Queens, NJ/Hudson Catholic) scored a game-high 16 for NJCU while junior point guard ASHLEY VAZQUEZ (Jersey City, NJ/Marist) and freshman power forward phenom BRIA SMITH (Bayonne, NJ/St. Dominic Academy) each netted 15 while sophomore forward DESEREE JOHNSON (Red Bank, NJ/Monmouth Regional) chipped in 13.
 
Medley, who has become a much more consistent scorer this year, was two points shy of a matching a career high while netting 16 points on 5-of-11 shooting and 5-of-7 free throw accuracy. In 33 minutes she equaled a career high with eight rebounds.
 
Smith, a five-time NJAC Rookie of the Week and one-time Player of the Week pick, shot 11-of-12 from the line and narrowly missed a double-double, finishing with 15 points, nine rebounds, three steals and two assists in 34 minutes.

Vazquez reached double figures for the 19^th time in 21 games this season, shooting 6-of-11 and 3-of-5 from three-point range while producing 15 points and four assists. She played a full 40 minutes for the eighth time this year and in her career. Johnson matched her career high with 13 points, all in the first half, making 3-of-6 three-point opportunities (5-15 FG) before fouling out.
 
NJCU shot a staggering 46.7 percent from three-point range (7-15), canning half of its dozen tries in the first half. NJCU shot 41.3 percent from the field in the win (19-46). It also forced its way to the line and the Knights capitalized by making 24-of-32 free throws (.750). It matched the season high for makes that NJCU chalked up on February 1 against Kean (24-36).
 
NJCU won despite committing 27 turnovers which Stockton (14 turnovers) converted into a 29-10 differential in points off giveaways. The Knights outrebounded the Ospreys, 44-33.
 
Stockton also had four players in double figures led by a double-double of 14 points (5-16 FG, 1-5 3FG, 3-9 FT) and 11 rebounds in 40 minutes by Sara Farrell. Alex Nardoza finished with 12 points (6-14 FG), nine rebounds and three steals in 39 minutes.
 
Also for the hosts, Francesca Gervato tallied 13 points and three assists, shooting 4-of-7 overall and 3-of-6 from deep. Lauren Alwan tallied 12 points, six boards and four steals before becoming the first of two Ospreys to foul out. Stockton went to the line 28 times but shot just 50 percent (14-28).
 
"This was another great team win tonight," third-year head coach Amy Mulligan exclaimed. "Everyone gave something and we stayed strong throughout the game. We had evenly distributed scoring and rebounding from numerous people! Our free throw shooting was big for us today and the difference in the game."
 
"[Individually], Ash, Des, Jade and Bria did a tremendous with their scoring and rebounding! Jade was extremely aggressive and it shows by her rebounding and shot selection. ZIYADAH WILLIAMS [six points, four boards, 4-5 FT, 13 minutes] did a great job off the bench and gave us big minutes today. Mesha [Laguerre, seven rebounds] had very important rebounds and also did a great defensive job. Overall I think our defense really frustrated them and offensively we were smart and played to our strengths." 
 
Johnson scored all 13 of her points in the opening half while Medley bagged nine points and Vazquez eight as NJCU clutched a 44-41 lead at the break. NJCU shot 87.5 percent from the line in the opening period (14-16), led by Smith who was 6-of-6, and half of NJCU's made field goals in the stanza were threes. Farrell, Gervato, Alwan and Nardoza each had eight for Stockton.
 
Stockton controlled the early tempo and opened a 21-10, 11-point cushion when Nardoza had a steal and jumper just 5:28 into the action. The Ospreys lead stood at 10 (29-19) with 10:39 to play in the period after a three-point play by Taylor Christina.
 
NJCU bounced back, tying the game at 31-31 after a 12-2 spurt sparked by a pair of triples from Johnson. Two more ties ensued before a jumper by Medley gave the guests a 37-36 edge. After Stockton went back on top, Medley drilled a three for a 40-38 lead. After Stockton forced another tie (41-41) with 1:18 left in the half, rookie center Ziyadah Williams (Jersey City, NJ/University Academy Charter)'s three-point play with 52 seconds left gave the Knights a three-point cushion at the break.
 
Stockton would draw even with the Knights twice more in the second half, 44-44 and 48-48 at 15:18. NJCU scored the next seven points—four by Medley before a steal and fast break bucket by Smith pushed the NJCU lead to its largest of the game, 55-48, at the midway point. NJCU would never trail again.
 
Stockton was able to dwindle the deficit to two (58-56) with 6:41 left on a Farrell offensive rebound and putback. A steal and fast break layup by Medley (5:53) and a Smith jumper made it 62-57 with 3:55 to play. Two foul shots by Smith with 1:21 to go made it a six-point margin and Medley sank the first of two tries from the line for a 66-59 advantage with 1:04 remaining.
 
Stockton didn't roll over. After two baskets made it a three-point game (66-63) with 44 seconds left, Farrell made the back end of two free throws with 30 seconds left to shave the Gothic Knight lead to two (66-64) and after an NJCU turnover with 17 seconds to play, Stockton called timeout with possession and a chance to tie or take the lead. But Nardoza missed a look, Smith grabbed the carom and buried two free throws for a 68-64 edge with 13 seconds on the clock. Nardoza hit a jumper with three seconds left but NJCU iced it from the line in the final seconds.
 
With four NJAC games remaining, NJCU begins the backstretch of its schedule with a home tilt against third-place William Paterson University on Saturday, February 8 at 2 p.m. at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center in Jersey City. WP won the first meeting in Wayne on January 11, 71-60.