JERSEY CITY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Senior point guard Marajiah Bacon (Neptune, NJ/Neptune) sizzled, producing the fourth triple-double in New Jersey City University women's basketball history—the first ever by an NJCU guard—and the first in 11 seasons and the Gothic Knights shocked Drew University, 65-48, in non-conference action on December 17 at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (Coach Charlie Brown Court).
 
On a day where Bacon moved into fifth place in New Jersey Athletic Conference history with 1,851 points, she achieved the first NJCU triple-double since forward Vanessa Vargas Espinoza on January 28, 2008. Bacon notched 32 points, 15 rebounds and 11 steals in a shade under 40 minutes, while adding four assists and two blocks. She was 12-of-29 from the field, 5-of-7 from the line, and sank three triples.
 
Bacon's 32 points are by far the most in a triple-double effort in school history—12 more than the 20 Espinoza netted in 2008. Meanwhile, the 15 rebounds and 11 steals are the second most ever in an NJCU triple double. It was her 18th career 30+ point scoring outburst.
 
Bacon had 14 points, eight rebounds and six steals at halftime and after three quarters had collected 20 points, 11 rebounds and nine steals—one swipe shy of a triple double with 10 minutes left. Bacon put the gravy on her evening with 12 points, four rebounds and two steals in the final quarter.

NJCU led nearly the entire game and was clutching a 41-38 margin after three quarters before hitting the accelerator in the fourth, outscoring the Rangers 24-10 in the final period. Drew fell to 6-3 and had its five-game winning streak snapped.
 
After losing 42 consecutive games over the last three seasons, the last week has been a very different Gothic Knight team as NJCU (2-9) won for the second time in three games, despite missing five players due to injuries, including one starter. Last Monday, NJCU defeated Saint Elizabeth, 73-70, then nearly knocked off NJAC preseason favorite TCNJ on the road December 12.
 
While Marajiah Bacon (Neptune, NJ/Neptune) had the historic night, she did have help. Her twin sister, Miesha Bacon (Neptune, NJ/Neptune), who was named NJAC Player of the Week for the first time in her career earlier in the day, had eight rebounds, six points, three assists and two steals. Senior Christine Bizub (Fort Lee, NJ/Fort Lee) tallied eight points, including a pair of threes, and had three steals and sophomore guard Mya Neal (East Orange, NJ/Newark Tech) finished with eight points (3-4 FG, 2-3 3FG), six rebounds and two assists.
 
NJCU had more steals (17) than turnovers (15), forced 24 Drew giveaways and turned that discrepancy into a dramatic 25-10 margin in points off giveaways. NJCU scored 19 points on the fast break.
 
NJCU jumped out to a quick 10-6 lead as Marajiah Bacon (Neptune, NJ/Neptune) knocked down back-to-back threes, and after Drew grabbed two brief one-point leads, a triple by senior Jesenia Montalvo (Hillside, NJ/Bayonne) and a steal and jumper by Marajiah Bacon (Neptune, NJ/Neptune) gave NJCU a 17-13 lead after one quarter.
 

ALL-TIME TRIPLE DOUBLES, NJCU WOMEN'S BASKETBALL HISTORY
DATE	PLAYER	STATS	OPPONENT	SCORE
12/17/2018	Marajiah Bacon (Neptune, NJ/Neptune)	32 points, 15 rebounds, 11 steals	DREW	WON, 65-48
01/28/2008	Vanessa Vargas Espinoza	20 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists	at City Tech	WON, 68-47
01/12/2002	Shondelle Browne	12 points, 13 rebounds, 12 steals	ROWAN	Lost, 62-48
02/13/1986	Monique Hemingway	18 points, 22 rebounds, 12 assists	at Rutgers-Camden	WON, 105-45

Sophomore forward Erin Frederick (Staten Island, N.Y.) tied it with a pair of layups with 6:05 left in the second. Another three by Montalvo gave NJCU back the lead and Marajiah Bacon (Neptune, NJ/Neptune)'s three-point play made it a six-point, 28-22 lead. NJCU led by one at the half, 28-27.
 
NJCU got out to a quick start out of the break, scoring eight of the first 10 points, to open a seven-point lead. After Drew drew within two (36-34), a three by Bizub and a Marajiah Bacon (Neptune, NJ/Neptune) jumper off a Bizub steal pushed the margin to 41-34 and NJCU went into the final quarter up three. It remained a four-point game (45-41) with 7:00 left.
 
But Neal hit a three with 5:45 to go and Bizub drilled a dagger three with 5:10 left from the corner to extend the cushion to 10, 51-41, and the Rangers never came closer than seven again. A 9-0 outburst down the stretch boosted the lead to 16 as the Knights sealed the impressive win.
 
Frederick led Drew with 18 points (9-20 FG) and eight rebounds and senior guard Hailey Stine (Annandale, N.J.) had 12 points. Sophomore guard Julia Ramos (Hazlet, N.J.) had 10 points and four assists. Freshman forward Seyka Campbell (Sicklerville, N.J.), Drew's leading scorer at 12.3 per game, was lost to an injury 3:24 into the action.
 
NOTABLES:

• Series: 9th meeting. NJCU leads all-time series, 5-4, and snapped Drew's four-game winning streak in the leads the all-time series.
• First meeting since February 3, 2010 in Madison, N.J.
• Marajiah Bacon (Neptune, NJ/Neptune) moved into fifth place in NJAC history in scoring, passing Rutgers-Camden's Tamara Carey (1991-95; 1,846 points) on the all-time list.
• Marajiah Bacon (Neptune, NJ/Neptune) increased her season scoring average from 23.2 to 24.0 points per game. She now ranks third in Division III in scoring.
• Marajiah Bacon (Neptune, NJ/Neptune) has now scored in double figures 78 times in 79 career games between Kean (2015-18, 67 times in 68 games) and NJCU (11 times in 11 games). Other updated career totals for Bacon:
  • 20-Point Games: 53 (44 at Kean, nine at NJCU)
  • 25-Point Games: 34 (30 at Kean, four at NJCU
  • 30-Point Games: 18 (16 at Kean, two at NJCU)
  • 35-Point Games: 9 (eight at Kean, one at NJCU)
  • 40-Point Games: 4 (all at Kean; career high, 44)

 
UP NEXT:

• NJCU will be idle over the holidays and returns to action in 19 days when it hosts Stockton University on Saturday, January 5 at 1 p.m. in NJAC action in Jersey City.

 
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