JERSEY CITY, N.J. – Despite another dominant performance from sophomore captain Damaris Rodriguez (Secaucus, N.J./Secaucus), who led all players with a career-high 30 points and a game-best 11 assists for her second-career double-double, the New Jersey City University women's basketball team suffered a tough 81-78 defeat at the hands of the University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg on Thursday afternoon, Dec. 30, on Coach Charlie Brown Court at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (JMAC).
 
The Gothic Knights (3-4) led by nine points to start the fourth and had a game-high 11-point advantage with 9:41 to go against the Bobcats (7-1), however UPG dominated offensively in the final period and outscored NJCU 31-19 over the final 10:00 to complete the comeback. Pitt-Greensburg went on a 10-1 run from 6:55 to 5:24 to tie it up at 64-64, and from that point forward the two squads traded the lead back and forth several times.
 
Tied up at 73-73 with 1:51 left, UPG went up by five quickly, but rookie Olivia Wooten's (East Orange, N.J./Immaculate Conception) step-back three from the top of the arc made it a two-point, 78-76 game with 1:10 remaining. Down by four after a pair of Bobcat free throws, junior Janari Newsome (Newark, N.J./Technology) took a pass from Rodriguez underneath and sank a layup with 16 seconds left – a huge one for her only bucket on the day. Then, trailing by three, NJCU had the ball with 00:13 on the clock needing a three to tie it. Unfortunately, the Gothic Knight were unable to send it to overtime in that final possession and the Bobcats earned the victory.
 
Highlights:
- Junior Jada Camacho (Jersey City, N.J./Dickinson) notched her third 20-point performance of the season for the Gothic Knights and finished with 23 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and a game-high three blocks. It is her second double-double of the season.
- Freshman center Liyah Allen (Hillside, N.J./Hillside) also had a double-double – the first of her collegiate career – after chipping in 13 points and pulling down a team-high 11 boards.
- Wooten contributed 10 points and four rebounds.
- UPG's Nadege Durand (game-high 16 rebounds) and Sidney McCully each finished with 22 points. The latter was 5-for-9 from three, as well.
 
Up Next:
The Gothic Knights look to shake off this latest loss after the New Year when they travel down to Glassboro, N.J., for New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) action. NJCU will face off with Rowan University at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday night, Jan. 5.