JERSEY CITY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | The New Jersey City University women's basketball team held its largest lead of the season midway through the second quarter but York College (NY) used a 12-0 run that spanned the third and fourth quarters to rally past the Gothic Knights, 70-61, in non-conference action on December 13 at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center ("Coach Charlie Brown Court").
 
York (3-5) claimed its first-ever win over NJCU (0-9) in eight all-time meetings by limiting the Knights to 12-of-50 shooting (.240) in the final three quarters after NJCU shot a lights out 52.4 percent in the first quarter (11-21).
 
NJCU led 24-13 after one quarter and the 11-point margin was its largest of the season to date, as eight different players scored in the period. York limited NJCU to 3-of-16 shooting in the second quarter, outscored the Knights 16-8 in the period and whittled the lead to 32-29 at the half.
 
The Cardinals moved in front by a possession late in the second half and it was still a two-point game (49-47) with 21 seconds to go in the third. But the turning point of the game came in the final three seconds of the quarter. After senior forward Juliet Matthews (Crown Heights, N.Y.) hit a jumper with three seconds on the clock, freshman guard NyKeisha Paul (Far Rockaway, N.Y.) stole the inbounds pass and scored at the buzzer for a four-point swing that sent the Cardinals to the fourth period up six, 53-47.
 
York scored the first four baskets of the fourth quarter, including a pair by Paul, to push the lead to 14 with 7:51 remaining (67-41) and an offensive rebound and putback by junior forward Claudia Rhoden (Brooklyn, N.Y.) with 6:54 to go gave York its largest lead of the game, 63-48 (+15). NJCU couldn't draw closer than seven the remainder of the game.
 
Freshman center Kiara Wood (Asbury Park, NJ/Asbury Park) and junior swingman Nazjae Imes (Jersey City, NJ/St. Mary of the Assumption) each reached double figures for the first time as Gothic Knights and each totaled 13 points. Wood was 3-of-6 from the field and an impressive 7-of-8 from the line after being just 3-of-14 from the stripe in the first eight games of the season. She added six rebounds (five offensive) and two steals before fouling out. Imes had 13 points and five rebounds. Junior point guard Jesenia Montalvo (Hillside, NJ/Bayonne) finished with seven points, seven assists and three steals.
 
Paul had a game-high 21 points shooting 7-of-16 overall and 7-of-11 from the line. She added eight rebounds and four assists. Senior guard Karen Bellamy (Bronx, N.Y.) collected a double-double of 16 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and four steals. Rhoden finished with 12 points (6-10 FG) and eight caroms.
 
OF NOTE:

• Series: 8th meeting; NJCU leads, 7-1 (results from 1975 and 1976 unknown).
• The previous NJCU career highs for Wood and Imes was eight points apiece.

 
UP NEXT?:
NJCU heads to Long Island to meet undefeated SUNY Old Westbury on Saturday, December 16 at 12 p.m. The Panthers are 8-0. It will be the second-ever meeting between the programs in women's basketball after OW won last season, 78-65, in Jersey City on December 17, 2016.
 
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