JERSEY CITY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Down 20 points with 3:42 to go in the first half, the New Jersey City University women's basketball team could have easily called it a season. But on Senior Night 2015, the Gothic Knights had other plans. NJCU used an explosive 16-2 run over a span of 3:48 between the end of the first half and early second half to whittle the deficit to single digits and outscored Rutgers University-Camden 47-28 in the second half en route to an improbable 72-66 come-from-behind New Jersey Athletic Conference victory on February 18 at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center.
 
NJCU concludes its 45th season of women's basketball at 10-15 overall (4-14 NJAC)—its first season with double digit victories since winning 10 games in consecutive years in 2005-06 and 2006-07. Rutgers-Camden ends the season 9-16 (5-13 NJAC).
 
Prior to the game, NJCU honors its two seniors—guard Jade Medley (Queens, NY/Hudson Catholic) and All-NJAC point guard and captain Ashley Vazquez (Jersey City, NJ/Marist), who missed the entire season after suffering an injury in a preseason scrimmage. Medley finished her career No. 2 in school history with 88 three-point field goals.
 
Sophomore power forward Bria Smith (Bayonne, NJ/St. Dominic Academy) had an incredible effort in the win and she posted her eighth career 20-point scoring performance (fourth this season) and her third outing of 25 or more points. Smith generated her 14th double-double of the season and 24th of her career, scoring 25 points (9-21 FG) including 2-for-2 3-point shooting, with 13 rebounds (eight defensive), four steals and two blocks in a full 40 minutes.
 
Junior forward Deseree Johnson (Red Bank, NJ/Monmouth Regional) also played a full 40 minutes and netted 14 points including 13 in the second half and hit three triples (3-9 3FG) with seven rebounds. Medley wrapped up her two-sport volleyball-basketball career with 12 points, six rebounds and four steals in 30 minutes. She scored all 12 in the second half.
 
Sophomore point guard Jazz Randall (Parsippany, NJ/West Orange) chipped in 10 points and three assists off the bench while freshman guard Jesenia Montalvo (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) had three assists and three steals.
 
Camden senior center Tanjae Lewis (Magnolia, NJ/Sterling) totaled 21 points (9-21 FG) and 10 boards (eight defensive) with another double-double coming from junior Kamari Talley (Camden, NJ/Creative Arts) with 16 points, 13 rebounds, three assists and two steals.
 
RUC also received 14 points (5-13 FG), highlighted by 4-of-9 three-point shooting by senior guard Alex Gravinese (Audubon, NJ/Audubon) in a shade under 40 minutes. Senior guard/forward Irene Grimanis (Brooklawn, NJ/Gloucester) had 12 rebounds. Freshman guard Cara Racobaldo (Pennsauken, NJ/Camden Catholic) delivered eight assists and eight rebounds but committed eight of RUC's 20 turnovers.
 
NJCU limited its turnovers, committing just eight in the win and that translated into a 21-9 margin in points off giveaways. NJCU had a 16-4 differential in bench contributions.
 
Camden scored the first 13 points of the game and led 16-1 before NJCU mustered its first field goal with 14:27 to play. Up big the entire first half, the Raptors lead reached 35-15 on a steal and fast break layup by Talley and RUC still led by 18 with 1:50 to go in the half. 
 NJCU began to mount momentum heading into the break and a halftime senior ceremony, scoring seven of the final nine points of the period, and trailed 38-25 at the half when Smith hit a three in the final 10 seconds.
 
That emotional lift carried into the second half and NJCU scored the first nine points to draw within four points (38-34) with 18:02 left when Johnson drilled a big three. Earlier in the run, Medley had a steal and fast break to open the half.
 
Camden was able to hold onto a slim lead and led 46-41 until Smith turned a steal into a coast-to-coast layup to make it one-point game and Medley buried a three to give NJCU its first lead, 48-46, with 12:35 to play. RUC tied it at 48-48 before Montalvo hit a pull up jumper off a nice feed from Johnson with 10:28 left and NJCU never trailed again.
 
However the Knights couldn't pull away until the final two minutes. Gravinese hit a three to tie it at 53-53 with 7:56 to play, Lewis had an offensive rebound and follow with 6:42 left for a 55-55 tie and when Johnson hit a three to lift NJCU to a 60-56 lead with 4:46 showing, Lewis tied it again at 60-60 with two free throws at the 3:01 mark.
 
But from there NJCU started its final push. Smith buried another three for a 63-60 lead with 2:44 left and had an offensive rebound and putback with 2:09 to play before Johnson splashed a dagger three from the left arc with 53.4 seconds on the clock for a six-point, 68-62 cushion. NJCU iced the game from the line.
 

QUOTES:
NJCU head coach Amy Mulligan (fourth season)
 
On winning on Senior Night:: "Tonight was a bittersweet night as it was an amazing come from behind win to get our 10th win of the season but saying goodbye to two seniors in Jade and Ashley was tough. The transformation of both these young ladies on and off the court is amazing. They have grown both in the classroom and as leaders and people. I am so proud of them and their accomplishments and contributions to our growing program."
 
On Bria Smith being Bria Smith again: "Bria really took our team on her back in the first half to keep us in the game. She dominated the boards for us and was the aggressive spark we needed."
 
On other contributions: "Jade had a tremendous game defensively and then offensively in the second half as she shot with confidence and was really aggressive to the basket. Des Johnson did a great job on defense but also pushed us through with 13 second half points. I think everyone contributed in very important points. We had a big bucket or stop from each player tonight. I think we also had a sixth man tonight in our fans who really helped keep our energy up."
 
OF NOTE:

• 55th meeting. Rutgers-Camden leads all-time series, 31-24.
• Teams split the season series; the Raptors won, 65-63, on January 14 in Camden, NJ.
• Bria Smith reached double figures in scoring for the 36th time in 50 career games and the 21st time in 25 games this year.
• Bria Smith hauled in double digits in rebounding for the 30th time as a collegian and 16th time this season.
• Bria Smith wrapped up her first two collegiate seasons ranking 15th in school history in scoring with 703 points and 12th in rebounding with 564.
• Jade Medley collected her 33rd career double-digit scoring effort and 13th of the season.
• Jade Medley finished her collegiate career with 88 three pointers in 98 career games (2011-15); only Sandra Nunez had more threes (106, 93 games, 1998-02). She is 16th all-time with 701 points.
• Deseree Johnson netted her 15th career double-digit scoring effort and eighth this season.
• Jazz Randall equaled her career high, scoring 10 points for the fourth time this season and first time since December 10.
• Smith and Johnson each played a full 40 minutes for the third time in their careers.