BROOKLYN, NY (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New Jersey City University and St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) were deadlocked at 59-59—the ninth tie of the game—with 7:35 left in the contest, before the Bears finished the outing by scoring 10 of the final 14 points, including a pair of steals that led to fast break baskets with under three to play as SJCBK edged NJCU, 69-61, in a non-conference women's basketball game on January 2.
 
After St. Joseph's (3-10) gained a four-point lead, junior forward Ziyadah Williams (Jersey City, NJ/University Academy Charter) hit a jumper with 4:43 remaining to make it a two-point game, 61-59. It remained a two-point difference, 62-60, with 3:29 to play.
 
But the Gothic Knights (1-10, lost 8) turned it over on the next two times down the floor. A Victoria Porcasi steal led to a fast break by Erica Eddy with 2:54 left and the two hooked up again with a steal and transition basket just 17 seconds later as the Bears seized a 66-60 advantage. Samantha Simon connected on a three with 2:12 to go to seal the win for the hosts, giving SJCBK a 69-60 margin.
 
The Bears only committed 12 turnovers and translated 23 Gothic Knight giveaways into a decisive 30-3 differential in points off turnovers. The hosts also owned a 14-2 margin on the fast break.
 
The loss spoiled a fantastic individual effort for senior forward Deseree Johnson (Red Bank, NJ/Monmouth Regional) who produced her fourth double-double of the season and seventh of her career with her 23rd career double-digit scoring effort (eighth in 11 games this season). Johnson notched a game-high 23 points on 10-of-16 shooting, including 3-of-7 three-point prowess, while grabbing 12 rebounds (nine defensive) in 39 minutes.
 
Meanwhile, freshman guard/forward Christine Bizub (Fort Lee, NJ/Fort Lee) achieved a career high for the second straight game, scoring 12 points. Williams seized a career-high 13 rebounds (10 defensive)—her first career double-digit rebounding game. Freshman guard/forward Megan Semeniak (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) finished with nine points (3-7 FG; 2-4 3FG).
 
The Bears received a game-high equaling 23 points from Destiny Marino, who shot 8-of-20 (2-6 3FG) with nine assists, six rebounds and four steals in 36 minutes. Also for the hosts, Eddy netted 17 points (7-16 FG) with six boards and Simon contributed 12 points (3-5 FG; 5-7 FT) and seven caroms. Kellie O'Neill scored nine points (3-6 FG; 2-4 3FG).  
 
Both teams shot an identical 24-of-61 from the field (.393) but the Bears made twice as many free throws (14-21, .667); NJCU was 7-of-16 (.438).
 
Key Moments:

• SJCBK opened an early 10-2 lead in the first 6:39 but NJCU battled back and whittled the deficit to 11-9 on a Bizub three with 3:46 left in the opening period. SJCBK led 15-11 at the end of the first quarter.
• The Bears pushed the lead to seven (18-11) on an O'Neill three early in the second quarter before an 8-1 NJCU run, including threes by Johnson and Semeniak tied it at 19-19. Semeniak hit another three for a 27-27 deadlock before the teams were separated by two at halftime, 35-33.
• The clubs traded two more ties in the third quarter. NJCU opened a 44-41 advantage on a Johnson jumper with 5:24 left in the quarter but the Bears used an 11-0 surge to match its largest lead of the first three periods, 52-44, with 2:12 on the clock. Marino scored six during the stretch, including a pair of baskets off turnovers.
• SJCBK led by two, 53-51, at the end of three quarters.
• The clubs were tied four times in the fourth quarter—at 53, 55, 57 and 59—before the game-determining final run.

 
#KnightNotes:

• Ninth meeting. NJCU leads the all-time series, 5-4. It was NJCU's first-time facing SJCBK since the school joined the Skyline Conference.
• Deseree Johnson scored 20+ points for the second time this season and third time in her career.

What's Next?:
NJCU returns to New Jersey Athletic Conference action on Wednesday, January 6 at 6 p.m. when the Knights meet Stockton University in Galloway, NJ. The Ospreys are 8-3 overall (3-2 NJAC) and have won six straight games. Stockton last played on December 20 in Puerto Rico and last lost on December 2 at home to TCNJ. It will be the 58th meeting in a series Stockton leads 44-13. Stockton swept the 2014-15 season series and has won 23 of the last 24 meetings since November, 1998. Follow live stats [http://sidearmstats.com/stockton/wbball/] or live video [http://livestream.com/stocktonathletics].