JERSEY CITY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | For those who saw the 2018-19 New Jersey City University women's basketball team play, they know that even in Year One under head coach Patrick Devaney `12, the team showed heart. They resettled a ship that had been in rocky waters in years past, breaking the program's 42-game losing streak overall and its 58-game conference losing streak.
 
The Gothic Knights' star player, Marajiah Bacon (Neptune, NJ/Neptune), set records seemingly every time she stepped on the court, with two triple-doubles and a single-game program-record 46 points highlighting her lone season in the green and gold.
 
Now, however, the NJCU program looks to take a different track: Towards sustainable success. 
 
"We took the first step last year, getting the monkey off our back by winning those two conference games," Devaney explained. "Now it's about believing. If all these kids think they can do it, we can do it. I think that's one of the things that's been lost here. We're building that culture of extreme confidence."
 
There will be fresh faces aplenty in Year Two of the Devaney Era, as the Gothic Knight alum brings in four transfers, five freshmen and a redshirt senior to compliment eight returners to produce a squad that looks as deep as any in recent school history. 
 
"This is probably the most talented team I've been around, and I've been here for 13 years," said Devaney.
 
Unlike last year, when the Knights were guided by one incredible shining star, the 2019-20 edition of NJCU women's basketball is going to see strength in numbers. 
 
"Last year, I couldn't sub girls out,'" Devaney joked. "This year, I have the opposite problem. In our scrimmages, I had girls I was trying to play but couldn't. But that's a good problem to have."
 
With that depth in hand, the Knights plan on playing an all-out aggressive style on both sides of the ball. 
 
"We're going to be a top defensive team that likes running; a team that plays together," Devaney said. "We're going to press all game; press them to death. Someone is going to run out of gas; hopefully it's not us first."

 
Fresh Faces
This aggressive attack should lead to offense on its own, but if not, the Knights now have far more creators than in years past. While Devaney has a couple of names set to battle it out for the starting point guard spot, there will be plenty of buckets coming from the wings in the form of junior transfer Dayjah Anderson (East Orange, NJ/Newark Tech) and redshirt senior transfer Hannah Johnson (Jersey City, NJ/Saint Dominic Academy). Both players are skilled scorers who can also create for others. 
 
This type of versatility is hardly limited to the wings, as returning freshman Jasmine Reese (Jersey City, NJ/Hudson Catholic) is one of the most talented players the program has seen. The 6-1 point guard/center (yes, that's right) played in four games last season and was a one-time New Jersey Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week selection, averaging 12.0 points and 9.5 rebounds before suffering a season-ending injury that means she'll be starting 2019-20 as a freshman again. 
 
"Coco [Reese] looks really good," Devaney noted. "Truthfully, I'm looking for her to win Rookie of the Year. She was averaging a double-double when she was still nervous as a freshman. Now, I see that extreme confidence. If she's healthy she should be an All-American. I can't see anyone sticking her — she can play the 1 or the 5, she's a matchup problem for everyone."
 
Joining Reese in the frontcourt will be a plethora of vertically gifted players, something NJCU has not always had. The Knights have four players listed at least 6-0, with freshman center Janari Newsome (Newark, NJ/Technology) likely to play a large role. She scored 1,246 career points at Technology and averaged 14.4 points per game as a senior in 2018-19.
 
"She was ninth in the state in rebounding and fifth or sixth in blocked shots as a senior last year," Devaney noted. "She's got a shot to start right away as a freshman here."
 

The Knights' head coach also expressed his excitement at being able to return sophomore Leah Seickendick (Hoboken, NJ/Hudson Catholic) to the team. The 6-2 center played briefly in 2017-18 and also plays for the women's volleyball team. Junior power forward Ayanna Lewis (Willingboro, NJ/Burlington County institute of Technology) also reaches that magical 6-0 figure. 
 
"Ayanna is a highly-skilled big who can shoot the three, pass the ball, and go back to the basket," Devaney said of the junior transfer. "If she can just get a little better defensively, she's going to be great for us."
 
Circling around to the backcourt, Devaney especially likes what he sees from the defensive side of things. 
 
"Aaliyah McCrae (Paterson, NJ/Manchester Regional) is a senior transfer who is a monster defensively and can run the team. [Freshman] Joscelyn Williams (Jersey City, NJ/University) won two state titles in Newark and is a great defender and shooter. [Freshman] Samantha DiPopolo (North Arlington, NJ/North Arlington) guards the 1 or the 2 and can pass, dribble, shoot. If she just gets a little better defensively, she has all the tools to be a good DIII player."
 
Their coach also highlighted freshman small forward Sarah Edmond (Bloomfield, NJ/Bloomfield) on the wing as a player who gives 110 percent and can cover anyone 1 to 5 — a potential fan favorite, to say the least.
 
Key Returners
What shouldn't be lost in the shuffle of all the fresh faces is the talent that the Knights will return from last season. While Reese was listed above, there are plenty of other returning talents who should play a solid role in 2019-20. Small forward Zyearah Taylor-Gaston (Jersey City, NJ/Marist (via St. Anthony)), in particular, returns from a freshman season in which she averaged 6.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and nearly a steal and a block per game and seemingly got better and more confident each time she took the court.
 
Devaney also highlighted sophomore Maria Guzman (North Bergen, NJ/North Bergen) and junior Mya Neal (East Orange, NJ/Newark Tech) as key defensive pieces for this year. 
 
"Mya is a player who doesn't have an off switch. Up and down the court, she isn't scared. She has the heart of a lion, and she's gotten better offensively, which was something we asked of her."
 
Expectations
With the New Jersey Athletic Conference preseason women's basketball poll released last week — in which NJCU was picked to finish last (10th of 10) — the Knights head coach thought for a minute about whether he wanted to show the team or not. 
 
"I was holding it for a bit," Devaney explained. "But I had to let them know. Last year we were picked 10th, but we were the dark horse, so they were able to think there was at least some respect. This year, I'm posting that in not just the locker room but in each of their individual lockers so they see it every day."
 
Personally, their coach sets the bar much higher. 
 
"We should make the playoffs," Devaney stated. "If we don't, personally, I'd be disappointed."
 
As noted, the Knights will be more focused on a balanced approach on offense this year, with their coach noting the team's versatility as a strength for the upcoming season. 
 
"Truthfully, I've never been stuck in a corner offensively. I want to be able to adjust. Mostly, it's just about getting the defense off their heels. Now we just have to get that chemistry so it's clicking."
 
In their early-season scrimmages, the coaching staff made it a point of emphasis that the shot-creator, not the shot-maker was the one to whom the plaudits should be given. "We didn't track points; we tracked assists, turnovers, the opposition's offensive rebounds, and our missed box outs. The points I don't care about."
 
Big Games
It's good that the Knights are feeling confident heading into the season, because they have a massive early test in the form of a road game against the No. 1 team in the country, Amherst College. It will be the second consecutive year NJCU faces the squad that captured back-to-back national championships in 2016-17 and 2017-18. It will be NJCU's first-ever game against a team ranked No. 1 in the country.
 
The two teams faced off last year, with the Knights giving them a nice run for their money in a 78-52 game that was really decided by one big quarter (23-5 Amherst in the second). Now the Knights will travel to Massachusetts looking to put another scare into the Titans of DIII. "When I found out they were No. 1, I was excited," Devaney said. "That's the reason I added them in the first place. At the DIII level, we need to use anything we can to recruit. I told the team, 'This is a chance for you to make a name for yourself and for us, as a school, to do something special.' It's definitely going to be fun. I want to see who has the eye of the tiger when we play them."
 
That matchup will take place on November 17, the Knights' second game of the season. 
 
More Key Dates

• Season Opener: Wednesday, November 13 at Saint Elizabeth in Morristown, N.J. (7:00 p.m.)
• Home Opener and NJAC Opener: Tuesday, November 26 vs. Kean University on Coach Charlie Brown Court in Jersey City, N.J. (6:00 p.m.)
• Senior Night: Wednesday, February 19 vs. Ramapo College on Coach Charlie Brown Court in Jersey City, N.J. (6:00 p.m.)

 
NJCU Rundown

• 2018 Record: 5-20 (2-16 NJAC)
• Best Single-Season Record All Time: 18-9 (1988-89)
• Best NJAC Record All Time: 8-6 (1988-89)
• NJAC Championships: 0
• NJAC Regular Season Championships: 0
• NCAA Division III Tournament Appearances: 0
• ECAC Division III Tournament Appearances: 2 (1983-84, 1988-89)
• ECAC Division III Tournament Championships: 1 (1988-89)

 
Coaching Staff

• Head Coach: Pat Devaney, Sr. 
• Career Record (Seasons): 5-20 (Second season)
• Career NJAC Record: 2-16
• Assistant Coaches: Iasia Hemingway, Mikeera Brown, Nicole Skelly
• Team Managers: Christina Mezey and Briana Younger

 
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