PITMAN, N.J. — The New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) announced its award winners for this past week on late Monday evening, Jan. 17, and the New Jersey City University Gothic Knights secured a spot among the honorees. NJCU freshman Liyah Allen (Hillside, N.J./Hillside) was selected as the NJAC Women's Basketball Rookie of the Week.

The rookie center continued to play a crucial role for the Gothic Knights as NJCU went 1-1 this past week. Allen began with eight points, a block and a game- and career-best 18 rebounds in 38 minutes as a shorthanded Jersey City squad came back to defeat Stockton University on the road on Wednesday, Jan. 12, 55-49. Then, in NJCU's tough home loss to Montclair State University on Saturday, Jan. 15, Allen chipped in eight points and four rebounds over 26 minutes on the floor. She currently leads the NJAC in rebounding (9.1 per game).

This is the first honor of Allen's career. Not included in her stats from this past week were the 13 points and three rebounds she chipped in last night during the squad's near-upset, 65-61 loss on the road at #9 Tufts University in Medford, Mass. She and the rest of the JC women return to action this coming Wednesday, Jan. 19, for a 6:00 p.m. tip at Rutgers-Newark followed by a 1:00 p.m. tip on Saturday, Jan. 22, at Rutgers-Camden.