JERSEY CITY, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | The College of New Jersey committed just eight turnovers and limited the New Jersey City University women's basketball team to 10 or less points in each quarter as the Lions downed the Gothic Knights, 62-37, in New Jersey Athletic Conference action on January 9 at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center.
 
Both teams struggled shooting—TCNJ made just 34.8 percent (24-69) while the Knights hit on 16-of-59 (.271). But while NJCU only committed 17 turnovers, the Lions were able to convert those giveaways into a 20-4 advantage and the TCNJ bench outscored the Gothic Knight reserves, 18-1.
 
NJCU scored the first seven points of the game before the Lions roared back to score 15 of the next 17 and led at the end of the first quarter, 15-9 before gradually pulling away in the subsequent periods.
 
TCNJ senior guard Angelica Esposito (Lincroft, NJ/St. John Vianney), who entered the game as the No. 1 free throw shooter in the nation, led all scorers with 15 points (5-15 FG, 4-4 FT). She is now 38-of-39 from the line this year (.974). Sophomore guard Charlotte Schum (East Hanover, NJ/Morris Catholic) finished with 11 points (4-8 FG), making 3-of-4 from three-point range, while junior guard Kim Dana (Freehold, NJ/Freehold) had a game-high seven assists, scoring eight points (3-6 FG, 2-4 3FG).
 
TCNJ blocked 14 shots as a team, led by sophomore forward Nikki Schott (Washington, NJ/Warren Hills). The 6-foot-0 forward came off the bench to reject seven shots and added six points (3-7 FG) and eight rebounds (six defensive).
 
The Lions notched an assist on 22 of 24 made baskets in the win. Freshman guard Kate O'Leary (Trumbull, CT) and senior forward Christina Merlin (North Brunswick, NJ/Bishop Ahr) combined for nine assists.
 
In defeat for NJCU, senior forward Deseree Johnson (Red Bank, NJ/Monmouth Regional) chalked up her fifth double-double of the season and eighth of her career, finishing with 11 points and 11 rebounds on a day where she struggled from the field (5-23 FG, 1-8 3FG).
 
Sophomore center Sharaunda Fiedtkou (West Orange, NJ/Bayonne) had another strong effort on the glass with her third career double-digit rebounding effort—all this year. She pulled down a career-high 12 rebounds (seven offensive) and added eight points. Junior guard Jazz Randall (Parsippany, NJ/West Orange) tallied eight points and five rebounds.
 
Key Moments:

 

• NJCU led 7-0 at the 7:41 mark before TCNJ got on the board for the first time when Schum hit a three with 6:25 on the board. The Lions took the lead for good at the 3:40 mark when Esposito scored on one of just two unassisted baskets in the game.
• Fiedtkou scored 14 seconds into the second half to stop TCNJ's run at 15-2. But the Lions would score the next nine consecutive points, extending its overall streak to 24-4. The Lions led 24-11 (+13) with 6:33 to play. Four different players contributed to the 9-0 spurt.
• TCNJ held onto the double-digit lead for most of the rest of the second quarter and led 29-18 at halftime and 43-28 at the end of three quarters.
• TCNJ scored the first 15 points of the fourth quarter to run away with the game, pushing the lead to 58-28, before NJCU got its first points of the quarter (5:08 left). An overall run of 21-2 gave TCNJ its largest lead, 62-30 (3:21).

 
#KnightNotes:

• 57th meeting. The Lions lead the all-time series, 54-3 (won last 14 meetings).
• The 14 blocked shots match the season high for an opponent; Bryn Athyn had 14 on December 19. Together in those games, the 14 opponent blocks were the most since Montclair State also had 14 in Montclair, NJ on February 21, 2004.
• Sharaunda Fiedtkou's previous rebounding high was 11 at Cairn on November 21, 2015.
• Deseree Johnson made one three-pointer in the game and moved into sole possession of third place in school history with 84 threes in 82 games. She surpassed Bernice Amadeo (2001-03, 04-05, 06-07) who had 83 three-pointers in 90 career games. Next on the list: former teammate Jade Medley with 88 threes in 98 games (2011-15).

 
What's Next?:
The Gothic Knights are home again on Wednesday, January 13 at 6 p.m. when they host Rutgers-Camden (7-5, 3-4 NJAC). The Raptors first have a non-conference game first with Cairn on January 11. NJCU won the last meeting between the schools, 72-66, on February 18, 2015 in Jersey City. It will be the 56th meeting between the program. Camden owns a 31-24 advantage all-time in the series. Follow live stats (http://sidearmstats.com/njcu/wbball/) or live video (https://www.youtube.com/user/NJCUGothicKnights/live).