GALLOWAY, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New Jersey City University trailed by six at the half before Stockton University outscored the Gothic Knights in the third quarter, 25-9, and prevailed, 76-55, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference game on January 6 at the Stockton Sports Center.
 
The loss spoiled another sensational effort for senior forward Deseree Johnson (Red Bank, NJ/Monmouth Regional) who continues to skyrocket up the all-time three-point shooting charts. Johnson buried 5-of-7 three-point attempts (5-11 FG) and finished with 16 points, six rebounds and three assists in 37 minutes. She entered the game in a three-way tie for fourth place in school history in triples and elevated her total to 83—tied for third in the programs annals.
 
As has been the case with most of NJCU's losses this season (1-11, 0-6 NJAC, lost 9), one huge quarter for the opposition was the difference. The Ospreys (9-3, 4-2 NJAC) won for the seventh straight game.
 
NJCU lost despite shooting a red-hot 57.1 percent from three-point distance, connecting on 8-of-14 treys behind Johnson.
 
Freshman guard/forward Christine Bizub (Fort Lee, NJ/Fort Lee) achieved a career high for the third straight game, equaling a career best with 12 points. She was 2-of-4 from long distance (5-12 FG) and had five steals. Sophomore power forward/center Sharaunda Fiedtkou (West Orange, NJ/Bayonne) contributed nine points and seven rebounds. Junior guard Jazz Randall (Parsippany, NJ/West Orange) tallied eight points and five assists.
 
But Stockton was too strong offensively with five players netting double figures. The Ospreys had 13 players see action but the top five scorers accounted for 66 off their 76 points.
 
Sasha Williams was the biggest factor with a huge double-double of 15 points (7-13 FG), 14 rebounds (seven offensive) and four blocks in 27 minutes. Lea Mendolla collected a game-high 17 points (7-15 FG, 3-7 3FG). Najha Treadwell chipped in a double-double effort of 13 points (6-10 FG) and 10 rebounds (five offensive) in 24 minutes.
 
April Peterson finished with 10 points, shooting 5-of-5 from the field with eight rebounds and Taylor Christina had 11 points.
 
Stockton outscored NJCU in the paint, 52-22 and used 26 Gothic Knight giveaways to claim a 32-12 differential in points off turnovers. The Osprey bench outscored NJCU's reserves, 20-5.

Key Moments:

 

• NJCU trailed by four (20-16) after one quarter. Down by eight (16-8), an offensive rebound and putback by Fiedtkou followed by a three by Johnson made it a three-point game.
• Stockton used a 9-0 spurt in the second quarter to turn a three-point lead (24-21, 7:35) into a 12-point, 33-21 margin with 4:07 to go. A triple by Taylor and two baskets by Williams capped the run. The lead was 11 (37-26) 70 seconds prior to the half before a three by Johnson and a steal and fast break by Bizub kept NJCU within striking distance at halftime, trailing 37-31.
• Leading 39-34, Stockton seized control with an 11-0 run over a span of 4:04 that saw the margin leap to 50-34. Five different players scored during the run. Stockton extended its lead to 22 at the end of the quarter (62-40). Stockton led by as many as 28 points with 8:22 left in the fourth quarter (68-40).

 
#KnightNotes:

• 58th meeting in a series Stockton leads 45-13. Stockton has won 24 of the last 25 meetings since November, 1998.
• The eight three-pointers matched a season-high; NJCU made eight against Ramapo on December 9.
• The 57.1 percent three-point rate was NJCU's best since shooting 9-of-15 for 60.0 percent in an 84-69 win over William Paterson on February 9, 2015.
• Deseree Johnson in just 81 career games is now tied with Bernice Amadeo (2001-03, 04-05, 06-07) who had 83 three-pointers in 90 career games. The all-time Top 5:

RANK	# 3FGs MADE	PLAYER	GAMES	YEARS
1	106	Sandra Nunez	93	1998-2002
2	88	Jade Medley	98	2011-15
3t	83	DESEREE JOHNSON	81	2012-16
3t	83	Bernice Amadeo	90	2001-03, 2004-05, 2006-07
5t	78	Erika Cubile	88	2001-05
5t	78	Latrese McNair	99	2003-07

 
 
What's Next?:
The Gothic Knights return home to the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (Coach Charlie Brown Court) when they host The College of New Jersey on Saturday, January 9 at 2 p.m. TCNJ (6-6, 3-3 NJAC) is in the midst of a four-game winning streak. It will be the 57th meeting. The Lions lead the all-time series, 53-3 (won last 13 meetings). Follow live stats (http://sidearmstats.com/njcu/wbball/) or live video (https://www.youtube.com/user/NJCUGothicKnights/live).