JERSEY CITY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New Jersey City University pulled within a game of .500 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference standings after dominating the first half defensively and rolling past Rutgers-Newark, 58-45, on February 1 at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (Coach Charlie Brown Court).
 
NJCU (9-11, 6-7 NJAC) limited Rutgers-Newark (3-17, 1-12 NJAC), last year's NJAC Champions, to just 2-of-25 shooting in the first half and led by as many as 16 in the opening period.
 
The Gothic Knights have won three in a row. With five games remaining in the regular season, NJCU is two games clear of Rutgers-Camden and three games in front of Ramapo and Stockton for the sixth and final seed in the NJAC Tournament; NJCU is seeking its first tournament appearance since 1989. With the loss Rutgers-Newark is officially eliminated from NJAC Tournament contention after winning the title in 2019.
 
Junior power forward Ayanna Lewis (Willingboro, NJ/Burlington County institute of Technology) generated her fourth double-double of the season, finishing with 11 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks. Junior wing Dayjah Anderson (East Orange, NJ/Newark Tech) led all scorers with 13 points despite only playing 24 points with an injury.
 
Also for NJCU, senior shooting guard Hannah Johnson (Jersey City, NJ/Saint Dominic Academy) had a well-rounded effort of nine points, eight rebounds, five assists, five steals and two blocks. Senior point guard Aaliyah McCrae (Paterson, NJ/Manchester Regional) and freshman guard Samantha DiPopolo (North Arlington, NJ/North Arlington) each chipped in seven points.
 
Senior swing Hannah Ashby (Teaneck, N.J.) led the way for the Scarlet Raiders, playing all 40 minutes and finishing with 12 points and nine rebounds. She was 1-of-13 from the field but managed to convert 10-of-12 at the line. Sophomore guard Syncere Lambert (Montclair, N.J) finished with 10 points. 
 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• NJCU jumped out to an 11-3 lead as Anderson hit all three free throws and Lewis sank a mid-range jumper. Edmond stole a pass from the Raiders and went coast-to-coast for a layup (13-3). Anderson's layup after picking up a loose ball extended it to 15-5. NJCU led 19-6 after one quarter.
• NJCU began pulling away in the second quarter, scoring 13 of the first 17 points to pull ahead 29-13. McCrae hit the first two baskets of the second quarter before Johnson nailed a three to make it 25-10. Further layups by sophomore small forward  Zyearah Taylor-Gaston (Jersey City, NJ/Marist (via St. Anthony)) and Johnson gave NJCU a 16-point lead before NJCU went to the half leading 31-16. Eight different players scored in the first half for NJCU. Rutgers-Newark had been shooting just 4.5 percent from the field, making just one of its first 22 shots (0-7 3FG) before hitting a three with 1:24 to go in the half. RUN was 11-of-16 from the line in the half. Newark's final first half line was 8.0 percent (2-of-25).
• NJCU shot 13-of-40 in the first half. Anderson scored seven points in 13 minutes before leaving the game with an injury. NJCU had a 20-2 edge in points in the paint. Newark gave away 16 first half turnovers.
• Johnson's second three of the game (34-19) and Lewis scored downcourt on a halfcourt pass from Johnson, hitting the ensuing foul shot for a 37-19 lead. McCrae drilled an NBA-range straight-away three to extend the lead to 40-22 with 3:56 left in the third and junior guard Mya Neal (East Orange, NJ/Newark Tech) followed with a defensive rebound and coast-to-coast bucket to push the lead to 20 (42-22). DiPopolo followed with a three from the left arc (45-22). NJCU led 47-26 after three quarters.
• Anderson returned in the fourth quarter and immediately hit a pull-up jumper. The Knights would go up by as many as 26 points, 55-29, with 5:19 left in the quarter before handing the reins to its reserves.

 
NOTABLES:

• Series: 77th meeting. Newark now leads 54-23. NJCU also won at Rutgers-Newark on December 14, 51-50.
• Dayjah Anderson (East Orange, NJ/Newark Tech) scored in double figures for the 11th time in 17 games. 
• Ayanna Lewis (Willingboro, NJ/Burlington County institute of Technology) reached double figures in both scoring and rebounding for the seventh time this year.

 
UP NEXT:

• NJCU hits the road to meet red-hot Montclair State University on Wednesday, February 5 at 6 p.m. MSU is now tied for first place in the league at 16-4 overall and 11-2 in the NJAC and has won 11 consecutive games. It will be the 67th meeting between the schools, including a narrow 57-49 loss to MSU in Jersey City on December 11. Montclair leads 63-3 and has now won the past 32 meetings since February 13, 2002. NJCU has never defeated MSU in Montclair, N.J.

 
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