JERSEY CITY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | After being down 14 early in the fourth quarter, New Jersey City University pulled to within four of William Paterson University with just over four minutes remaining in the game. The Knights couldn't quite capitalize on that momentum, however, as the Pioneers regathered, hit their free throws, and held on for the 61-49 victory at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (Coach Charlie Brown Court) on January 23.
 
The game went into the half with Paterson (10-9, 6-6 NJAC) holding just a one-point lead, and the Knights (4-15, 1-11 NJAC) leading scorer Marajiah Bacon (Neptune, NJ/Neptune) having her way with 15 points on 11 shots. The Pioneers adjusted well at the half, though, putting senior guard CeCe Green (Boonton, N.J.) onto Bacon, with Green holding the Knights' standout to just four points on six shots, while forcing three turnovers, in the third quarter. As a result, Paterson extended their lead to nine by the end of the frame.
 
The Pioneers opened the fourth with a made three from junior guard Alisa Giordano (Wood-Ridge, N.J.), and a fastbreak jumper from Green to push the lead out to 14, their largest of the game. From there, however, the Knights would slowly chip away to get back in the game.
 
Bacon knocked down a pair of free throws the next possession and, right after, on an excellent find, got the ball out to senior guard Christine Bizub (Fort Lee, NJ/Fort Lee) who connected on a corner three to cut the lead back down to single digits (48-39). A layup from freshman forward Zyearah Taylor-Gaston (Jersey City, NJ/Marist (via St. Anthony)) and then a deep three from Bacon, and the Knights were back in the game, with the crowd at their back.
 
The Knights traded buckets such that they were still within four at the two-minute mark, but they couldn't quite get over the hump to make it a one-possession game at any point, a common theme in recent games, and William Paterson hit their free throws down the stretch, extending what was a close game into a double-digit NJAC win.
 
Another common theme to the last two games has been the improved play of freshman wing Taylor-Gaston. She reached double-digits for the second straight game (and fourth time this season), matching a career-high with 13 points, doing so on an extremely efficient 4-of-7 from the field and 5-of-7 from the line.
 
Marajiah Bacon (Neptune, NJ/Neptune) once again led the team in scoring, and still went for 25 points, nine rebounds, three steals, and two assists, despite Paterson's strong second half adjustments to slow her down.
 
For Paterson, Green was undoubtedly the star of the game, posting a 15-point, 10-rebound double-double in addition to her stellar defense. She also had four assists and two steals in an impressive, well-rounded performance. Sophomore guard Brianna Brooks (Saddle Brook, N.J.) also had a double-double, with 14 points and 10 rebounds, adding in five blocks, three assists, and three steals for a stuffed stat sheet.
 
The Knights were once again hit hard on the interior, as they were outrebounded 50-32 and outscored in the paint 36-18. WP was limited to just 1-of-12 three-point shooting.
 
NOTABLES:

• Series: 75th meeting, William Paterson leads 64-11 and has now won the last 21 meetings.
• Marajiah Bacon (Neptune, NJ/Neptune) now has 2,077 career points, tied for 39th in Division III history. Full list: http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/w_basketball_RB/2019/D3.pdf
• Marajiah Bacon (Neptune, NJ/Neptune) kept her scoring average right at 25.8. She leads the NJAC in scoring and sits second in the country in points per game. Her three steals drop her average slightly to 4.7 steals per game on the season, where she ranks third in the country.
• Zyearah Taylor-Gaston (Jersey City, NJ/Marist (via St. Anthony)) had her fourth career double-digit scoring effort.
• Marajiah Bacon (Neptune, NJ/Neptune) has now scored in double figures 86 times in 87 career games between Kean (2015-18, 67 times in 68 games) and NJCU (19 times in 19 games). Other updated career totals for Bacon:
  • 20-Point Games: 60 (44 at Kean, 16 at NJCU)
  • 25-Point Games: 41 (30 at Kean, 11 at NJCU)
  • 30-Point Games: 21 (16 at Kean, five at NJCU)
  • 35-Point Games: 10 (eight at Kean, two at NJCU)
  • 40-Point Games: 5 (four at Kean; career high, 46 at NJCU)
• Marajiah Bacon (Neptune, NJ/Neptune) now needs 131 points over the final six games of the season to surpass Monique Hemingway's record of 620 points in 24 games in 1988-89. She would need to average 21.8 per game the rest of the year to reach the mark.
• Bacon set a single-season individual school record for field goal attempts (494).
• Marajiah Bacon (Neptune, NJ/Neptune) is chasing multiple single-season NJCU records. Here are all updates through game 19 of the 2018-19 season.

Points
1.    620    Monique Hemingway (24 games)     - 1988-89
2.    490    Marajiah Bacon (Neptune, NJ/Neptune) (18 games)     - 2018-19
3.    462    Chris Mosca (22 games)     - 1980-81
4.    461    Doris Nicholson (27 games)     - 1988-89
5.    443    Tara Mitchell (23 games)     - 1997-98
 
Scoring average (minimum 10 games)
1.    25.8    Marajiah Bacon (Neptune, NJ/Neptune)     (18 games)    2018-19
1.    25.8    Monique Hemingway     (24 games)    1988-89
3.    21.0    Chris Mosca     (22 games)    1980-81
4.    20.7    Patrice Hurt     (13 games)    1984-85
5.    19.3    Tara Mitchell     (23 games)    1997-98
 
Field goals made
1.    241    Monique Hemingway (24 games)     - 1988-89
2.    205    Doris Nicholson (27 games)     - 1988-89
3.    177    Marajiah Bacon (Neptune, NJ/Neptune) (18 games)     - 2018-19
4.    173    Doris Nicholson (22 games)     - 1987-88
5.    172    Tara Mitchell (23 games)     - 1997-98
 
Field goals attempted
1.    494    Marajiah Bacon (Neptune, NJ/Neptune) (18 games)     - 2018-19
2.    477    Monique Hemingway (24 games)     - 1988-89
3.    430    Tara Mitchell (23 games)     - 1997-98
4.    404    Lashawn Overton (22 games)     - 2008-09
5.    403    Ebony Cunningham (23 games)     - 2009-10
 
Free throws made
1.    154    Chris Mosca (22 games)     - 1980-81
2.    138    Monique Hemingway (24 games)     - 1988-89
3.    135    Bria Smith (25 games)     - 2014-15
4.    101    Marajiah Bacon (Neptune, NJ/Neptune) (18 games)     - 2018-19
5.    99    Tara Mitchell (23 games)     - 1997-98
 
Steals average (minimum 10 games)
1.    5.4    Latrese McNair     (27 games)    2004-05
2.    5.1    Latrese McNair     (24 games)    2005-06
3.    4.7    Marajiah Bacon (Neptune, NJ/Neptune)     (18 games)    2018-19
4.    4.4    Latrese McNair     (25 games)    2006-07
5.    4.0    Monique Hemingway     (21 games)    1984-85
 
UP NEXT:

• The Knights travel to Rutgers-Newark (11-7, 8-3 NJAC) for a tough conference road game on Saturday, January 26. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. in Newark, N.J.

 
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