JERSEY CITY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Junior center Shege Haxhaj (Lyndhurst, N.J./Lyndhurst) produced her first career double-double for a short-handed New Jersey City University side which played evenly with Ramapo College for a majority of the game, before the Roadrunners pulled away for a 51-38 New Jersey Athletic Conference women's basketball victory inside the John J. Moore Athletic and Fitness Center ('Coach Charlie Brown Court') on January 14.
 
NJCU (4-12, 0-9 NJAC), playing without three starters, scored just 38 points for the second straight outing. Ramapo led by as many as 17 to snap a four-game losing streak.
 
Haxhaj led NJCU with 12 points, 10 boards, and three steals in a shade under 40 minutes while senior guard Kiana Briggs (Paterson, N.J./Passaic County Tech) added 11 points, hauled in a season-high eight rebounds, including seven defensive, and assisted on five baskets in 30 minutes. Freshman guard Iyannah Moore (Newark, N.J./University) added seven points.
 
Ramapo (7-9, 2-7 NJAC) had three players score in double digits, led by Bintou Berete who produced a double-double performance behind a game-high 14 points (5-12 FG) and 10 boards in only 24 minutes of play. Kellie Lane (5-7 FG) dropped 11 points, dished out four assists, and forced three steals as the senior forward played 21 minutes. In 28 minutes, Jina Crawford (4-6 FG) scored 10 points and swatted away three shots.
 
In defeat, the Gothic Knights started the night slowly as they scored five points in the opening quarter of play. Down 12-5 after one quarter, NJCU matched up more evenly against Ramapo in the middle quarters as both teams scored 11 points in the second period, while the Gothic Knights outscored Ramapo, 11-9 during the third period of play. Heading into the fourth quarter, NJCU only trailed Ramapo by seven points (36-29) before Haxhaj's layup with 9:01 left cut the deficit to five points (36-31). However, NJCU was unable to shrink Ramapo's lead any further as they were outscored 15-7 to close the game
 
Ramapo scored 17 second-chance points off 14 offensive rebounds and outscored the NJCU bench, 14-2.
 
OF NOTE:

• 68th meeting. Ramapo leads all-time series, 40-28.
• Shege Haxhaj recorded her first-career double double against Ramapo. She grabbed double digits rebounds in the game for the third straight game and the fourth time this season. It was her third double-digit scoring effort.
• Kiana Briggs scored double digits in points for the sixth time this season.
• NJCU added five mid-year players to the roster and another returned for the first time since the preseason. Four of the six played and made their NJCU debuts in the loss. The additions:
  • Senior guard Kaydee Murphy Bayonne, N.J./Holy Family Academy) (preseason roster returnee)
  • Freshman guard Kayla Clarke (East Rutherford, NJ / Becton Regional)
  • Freshman guard Hannah Gavin (Bordentown, N.J./Bordentown)
  • Freshman guard Joelle Paris (Bayonne, N.J./County Prep),
  • Freshman forward Reana Ross (Jersey City, N.J./Dickinson)
  • Freshman guard Arianna Scrimo (Kearny, N.J./Kearny)

 
WHAT'S NEXT?:
The Gothic Knights play their next two games on the road. They take on Rutgers-Newark on Wednesday, January 18 at 6:00 p.m. before traveling to play Rutgers-Camden on Saturday, January 21 at 1:00 p.m. Rutgers-Newark has won the last 13 meetings versus the Gothic Knights, including a 69-61 come-from-behind win in Jersey City on November 22, and lead the all-time series, 49-21. It will be the 71st meeting.