LANGHORNE, PA (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Senior forward Deseree Johnson (Red Bank, NJ/Monmouth Regional) notched a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds and the New Jersey City University women's basketball team limited Cairn University to just 16.7 percent shooting in the second half, as the Gothic Knights picked up their first win of the season, 61-47, on November 21.
 
NJCU (1-2) limited the Highlanders (0-3) to 20.4 percent overall shooting (10-49) and 3-of-18 in the second half, while Johnson led three players in double figures.
 
Johnson produced her second double-double of the season and fifth of her career, knocking down three three-pointers while claiming four steals in 33 minutes. Junior guard Jazz Randall (Parsippany, NJ/West Orange) netted a career high 15 points (5-14 FG) with 5-of-6 foul shooting and added seven rebounds in 29 minutes.
 
Also for NJCU, sophomore guard/forward Mikeera Brown (Jersey City, NJ/Hudson Catholic) added a career-high 10 points (4-6 FG, 2-2 FT) and sophomore power forward/center Sharaunda Fiedtkou (West Orange, NJ/Bayonne) hauled down a career-high 11 rebounds (eight defensive) with four assists and two blocks. Freshman forward/center Ianna Carroll (Newark, NJ/University) had an effort of seven points, seven rebounds and five steals.
 
In defeat, Cairn's Amie Eppolito scored more than half of the Highlanders' points, as she collected a game-best 25 points on 5-of-14 shooting, including 4-of-9 three-point accuracy, while converting 11-of-14 from the line. However, she committed eight of Cairn's 32 turnovers. Payton Emerick grabbed 11 rebounds (nine defensive).
 
Despite committing 25 turnovers of its own, NJCU dominated in points off giveaways, owning a 22-8 differential. NJCU also received an 18-3 boost in scoring margin from its bench players.
 
NJCU jumped out to a 9-2 lead before Cairn bounced back with a 9-2 run to even the game at 11-11 at the end of the first quarter. NJCU took the lead for good when Johnson bagged a three with 7:42 to go in the first half. A steal and fast break by freshman shooting guard Christine Bizub (Fort Lee, NJ/Fort Lee) pushed the lead to seven (23-16) before the Knights went to the break with a 25-21 cushion.

 

NJCU put the game away in the third quarter, outscoring the Highlanders, 18-8, and led by 14, 43-29, at the end of three periods. Johnson scored seven in the quarter, including a three with 3:45 to go that capped a 7-0 run and gave the Knights an 11-point (37-26) edge. NJCU would lead by as many as 20 points when freshman guard/forward Megan Semeniak (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) hit a three with 4:21 to go in the fourth quarter (55-35) before prevailing by 14.
 
#KnightNotes:

• First-ever meeting.
• The win is the first as NJCU head coach for first-year coach Robyn Burton.
• Jazz Randall's previous career high was 10 points, accomplished four times—most recently on February 18, 2015 vs. Rutgers-Camden.
• Sharaunda Fiedtkou's previous rebounding high was seven at Centenary on November 16, 2014.

 
What's Next?:
In its final game before the Thanksgiving break, NJCU will open New Jersey Athletic Conference play on Tuesday, November 24 (6 pm) against Rutgers University-Newark at the Golden Dome in Newark. RUN leads the all-time series, 46-21, and has won the last 10 meetings. Follow live stats at: http://sidearmstats.com/rutgers/wbball/.