EWING, N.J. – The New Jersey City University women's basketball team opened up its road New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) slae on Saturday afternoon, Dec. 11, against The College of New Jersey. The squad came up just short, as they were defeated 64-60 by the Lions. In this thriller, the Knights led for 54.9 percent of the game and there were 20 different lead changes throughout the contest. The Green and Gold had a chance to tie the game with less than one second in the fourth quarter with three free throws, but fell just short. The Gothic Knights were led by junior Jimmirah Johnson (Prospect Park, N.J./International), who recorded her first NJCU double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.

NJCU (3-2, 1-4 NJAC) started off the game battling back and forth with TCNJ (5-5, 3-2 NJAC). Both teams kept the game close, as neither gained a lead by more then three points. The Knights had six different players score in the quarter. Heading into the second leading 12-11, the squad went on a quick 4-0 run, led by junior Jada Camacho (Jersey City, N.J./Dickinson) and freshman Olivia Wooten (East Orange, N.J./Immaculate Conception) to take the lead, 17-13. The Lions did not go down without a fight, keeping within striking distance throughout the quarter. A late bucket by sophomore Damaris Rodriguez (Secaucus, N.J./Secaucus) ended the first half with the Knights leading 24-22. 

The Gothic Knights came into the second half on fire, as they went on an 8-0 run within the first two minutes of the third. Junior Laney Fox (Parkland, Fla./Cardinal Gibbons), Rodriguez and Johnson combined for all eight on the blazing run. TCNJ continued to battle, scrapping throughout the quarter, including a 14-4 Lions' run in the middle of the third to cut the deficit. TCNJ's Julia Searo made a late contested three at the end of the quarter that tied the game up at 44-44.

The fourth quarter in this intense battle did not disappoint. The Lions led in the final period for only .04 seconds, but it was all TCNJ needed to defat the Gothic Knights. NJCU had opportunities in the fourth to widen the gap, but struggled from the line, shooting 3-of-10 (30.0 percent) from the charity stripe in the quarter. With 1:33 remaining, guard Laney Fox (Parkland, Fla./Cardinal Gibbons) got the team going, finishing an and-one basket to give NJCU a four-point lead. With 0:33 left, TCNJ's Arianna McCleod hit the game-winner to take the NJAC conference victory. 

For the Gothic Knights, Rodriguez had the most points, finishing with 18. Fox was one point and rebound shy from her first double-double with NJCU after ended the game with nine points, capturing nine boards and also dishing out two assists. Freshman Taija'na McCollum also had a career performance, finishing with her most rebounds in a game (9), free throws made (6) and the guard also totaled 10 points in the defeat. Freshman forward Liyah Allen (Hillside, N.J./Hillside) finished the day with eight points and two rebounds in her 21 minutes of action. 

The Gothic Knights will look to bounce back on the road Thursday night, Dec. 16, against non-conference foe Immaculuta University. Tip-off is set for 6:00 p.m.