EWING, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New Jersey City University led The College of New Jersey by three at halftime, but the Lions opened the second half on an 11-2 run and rallied past NJCU, 67-58, in New Jersey Athletic Conference women's basketball action on January 10 at Packer Hall.

NJCU (6-7, 1-6 NJAC) falls below .500 for the first time this season. The Lions improve to 8-5 (3-4 NJAC) and received a huge contribution from its bench, outscoring the Gothic Knight reserves, 26-3. TCNJ shot an astounding 66.7 percent (12-18) in the second half to separate itself. TCNJ also held the rebounding advantage (42-26) and recorded an assist on 20 of 24 made field goals.
 
The loss spoiled a career-high effort from junior forward Deseree Johnson (Red Bank, NJ/Monmouth Regional) who poured in a game-best 18 points (7-13 FG), including 4-of-7 three-point prowess. She added five rebounds and two steals in 37 minutes.
 
NJCU sophomore power forward Bria Smith (Bayonne, NJ/St. Dominic Academy), the league's leading rebounder, was a board shy of another double-double, collecting 16 points (5-18 FG, 6-8 FT), nine rebounds, three assists and three steals. Senior shooting guard Jade Medley (Queens, NY/Hudson Catholic) finished with nine points (2-5 3FG).
 
Four players scored in double figures for TCNJ which won its fifth straight outing. Senior Kylie O'Donnell (Magnolia, NJ/Sterling) dished out a career-high nine assists to lead the hosts, chipping in seven points. Seniors Kelly Coughlin (Trumbull, CT/Trumbull) and Jessica Goldbach (Edison, NJ/John P. Stevens) each scored a team-high 12 points, with Goldbach tallying nine rebounds (eight defensive) and shooting 5-for-10. Freshman Nikki Schott (Washington, NJ/Warren Hills) reached double figures with 10 points (4-7 FG).
In a back-and-forth opening period that saw five ties, TCNJ turned a 14-14 deadlock with 13:18 to play into an 11-point, 29-18 margin, with 7:10 on the board. NJCU led 16-15 (13:06) before the Lions amassed what was a 14-2 run over six minutes and five Lions scored during the spurt. O'Donnell had five for TCNJ.
 
The Gothic Knights answered back and did so with authority, rattling off 17 of the next 19 points to take a 35-31 lead. Johnson led all scorers in the opening period with 14 points and her three with 3:29 left made it a two-point game (29-27) after baskets by Smith and Medley and two Smith free throws. Sophomore point guard Jazz Randall (Parsippany, NJ/West Orange) tied it with a jumper (3:04) before Medley buried a three with 2:33 left to give NJCU the lead, 32-31. Randall hit another shot off a Johnson steal for a 34-31 edge.
 
After a jumper for NJCU made it 37-34 in the opening minute of the second half, the Lions scored the next nine points to cap an 11-2 run, moving in front on a steal by Goldbach, who assisted a layup by O'Donnell. A Coughlin layup made it a six-point game (43-37) before two free throws by Smith and a Johnson jumper cut the deficit to two (43-41) with 14:44 left.
 
But an 8-2 run over a span of 4:36 gave the Lions control. Back-to-back baskets by Schott made it an eight-point game (49-41) and Charlotte Schum scored inside to make it a 53-43 deficit with 9:51 to play. NJCU couldn't get closer than seven against the TCNJ defense the rest of the way, although the Lions never led by more than 13.
 
OF NOTE:

• Series: 55th meeting. TCNJ leads all-time series, 52-3 and has won the last 12 meetings.
• Bria Smith reached double figures in scoring for the 26th time in 38 career games and the 11th time in 13 games this year.
• Deseree Johnson's previous career high was 14 on December 10, 2014 at Ramapo.
• Deseree Johnson netted her 10th career double-digit scoring effort and third this season.

 
WHAT'S NEXT?
On Wednesday, January 14 NJCU will face Rutgers University-Camden (4-10, 0-7 NJAC, lost 3) in Camden, NJ at 6 p.m. NJCU won the last meeting, 73-55, in Camden on February 19, 2014. NJCU has won the last three meetings. It will be the 54th meeting in a series the Scarlet Raptors lead, 30-23.