UNION, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | The New Jersey City University women's basketball team rebounded from a double-digit deficit and pulled within two in the third quarter before Kean University used a 14-3 run over the late third and early fourth quarters to pull away for an 86-65 victory in New Jersey Athletic Conference action on December 7 at Harwood Arena.
 
NJCU junior center Shege Haxhaj (Lyndhurst, N.J./Lyndhurst) registered a career-high 17 points on 7-of-8 shooting in 24 minutes and added five rebounds before fouling out with 3:11 left in the fourth. The loss is the fourth straight for NJCU (3-6, 0-4 NJAC).
 
Two-time NJAC Rookie of the Week and freshman point guard Tu'ziah Hall (Greenville, N.C./Bannecker (NC)) had a near double-double with 15 points and a career-high nine assists in a full 40 minutes but she struggled with turnovers.
 
Kean's Marajiah Bacon, the nation's No. 11 scorer and NJAC leader, scored 23 (7-17 FG) including 8-of-8 from the line and dished three assists. Kean is 5-2 (3-1 NJAC).

Three different Cougars produced double doubles. Jaquetta Owens recorded 17 points and added 10 assists against only three turnovers in 25 minutes of action. In only 26 minutes of action, De'Mean Bond and Kenya Adams each achieved double-double performances. Bond grabbed 16 boards (13 defensive) and scored 16 points on 5-of-6 shooting (6-8 FT), while Adams registered 12 points (6-10 FG) and hauled in 11 rebounds.
 
In 26 minutes of action, Kiana Briggs (Paterson, N.J./Passaic County Tech) scored double digits for the fourth time this season as she registered 11 points on 5-of-13 shooting and collected a season-high eight rebounds for the second time this year. Senior forward Ziyadah Williams (Jersey City, N.J./University Academy Charter) recorded nine rebounds and added six points in 28 minutes.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
NJCU continued struggling out of the gates and fell behind by double figures, 20-9, at the end of the first quarter. NJCU rallied in the second quarter. Briggs' jumper with 5:43 on the clock cut Kean's lead to five (27-22). A Melissa Etienne (Maplewood, N.J./Columbia) layup with 2:33 left before the intermission cut Kean's lead to three before the hosts took a 38-33 lead to the locker room.
 
NJCU outscored Kean 24-18 in the second half and it trailed by only five point at the halfway point of the period. The Gothic Knights came out from halftime rejuvenated and went on a 6-0 run behind two made free throws by Haxhaj, a jumper by Hall, and a layup from Briggs to get within two points of Kean (43-41) with 7:09 left in the third quarter. While the Knights were unable to tie the game, they kept the deficit in the single digits as Kean led 58-51 entering the fourth.
 
Kean began to pull away as it opened the fourth quarter. The hosts scored six of the first eight points to regain a double digit lead (64-52) and were not challenged from there. Up 64-54 with 6:52 to go, the Cougars went on an 11-2 run over the next 3:18 to extend their lead to 19 (75-56). From there, Kean's lead was never less than 17 with its biggest lead of the night 23 points (86-63) with 1:54 left to play.
 
OF NOTE:

• 63rd meeting. Kean leads all-time series, 51-12 (won last 5)
• Haxhaj previous career-high of 11 points came against Stockton on February 10, 2016
• Hall's previous career-high of six assists came against Wheaton (Mass.) on November 18 and against Newbury on November 19
• Briggs previously had eight rebounds in a game against Newbury on November 19

 
WHAT'S NEXT?:
NJCU hosts The College of New Jersey (2-5, 1-3 NJAC, Lost 3) on Saturday, December 10 at 1 p.m. in New Jersey Athletic Conference action at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (Charlie Brown Court). TCNJ leads the all-time series, 55-3 and has won the last 15 meetings.