CAMDEN, N.J. — The New Jersey City University women's basketball team has officially caught fire. The Gothic Knights have strung not one, not two but three victories together which officially qualifies as a winning streak, as well as puts them two games above .500 in New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) play and squarely in the conversation for NJAC Tournament contention. NJCU picked up a 19-point, 70-51 victory on the road this afternoon, Jan. 11, over Rutgers-Camden. Three players scored in double-figures, led by a near-triple-double from junior guard Damaris Rodriguez (Secaucus, N.J./Secaucus).

Jersey City (5-8, 5-3 NJAC) is locked in a four-way tie for third in the NJAC standings after today's win over the Scarlet Raptors (2-13, 0-8 NJAC). Rodriguez finished with a game-best 21 points to go with game-highs in assists (9) and rebounds (8), as well as one steal over 38 minutes on the court. Senior guard Jada Camacho (Jersey City, N.J./Dickinson) ended the game with 15 points and has now scored at least that in each of the previous three games — all victories for the Gothic Knights. Sophomore forward Liyah Allen (Hillside, N.J./Hillside) shot 50 percent from the floor (5-of-10) to finish with 12 points, four rebounds and block.

Rutgers-Camden scored the game's first points to make it 2-0 in the first minute, however NJCU closed out the remainder of the first quarter on a 22-4 run and did not trail again at any point in the contest. Camacho scored eight of those points in the quarter to lead her squad. Overall, the Gothic Knights shot a whopping 83.3 percent (10-of-12) from the floor as a team in the first quarter, which allowed them to take that resounding early advantage. The second quarter was a little closer as Jersey City's offense tempered out a bit. NJCU built its lead up by two after the second and took a 33-15 lead into the half.

The final basket of the second, coupled with the first handful of points in the third, saw Rutgers-Camden go on a brief 7-0 run to trim the deficit down to 13 points at 33-20 with 6:19 to go in the quarter. The Scarlet Raptors actually outscored the Gothic Knights in that quarter, 17-14, after closed out the final seconds with a three-pointer. NJCU led by 15 heading into the fourth, 47-32. Rutgers-Camden kept the pressure on and eventually got it back to within 13 once again at 58-45 with 5:43 left, but the Green and Gold again put their foot on the acceleration via a 12-1 run, which resulted in a game-high 24-point, 70-46 lead with just 2:54 left in the game.

Senior forward Janari Newsome (Newark, N.J./Technology) started it off with a layup down low, followed by a jumper from Camacho and a pair of free throws from Rodriguez. One Camden free throw was answered by four straight points for senior guard Jasmine Reese (Jersey City, N.J./Hudson Catholic) before rookie forward Jalynn Clark (Irvington, N.J./Elizabeth) capped off the run with a bucket underneath. The Scarlet Raptors scored the final five points of the game, but NJCU had already sealed the victory and earned the 19-point win.

Highlights:
- Jersey City reserves outshined those of the Scarlet Raptors, outscoring them 22-2.
- NJCU also had a hold underneath and outscored Rutgers-Camden, 18-10, in points in the paint.
- Clark finished with eight points and six rebounds.
- Sophomore forward Kyla Craddock (Orange, N.J./Newark Tech) came off the bench for 15 minutes and led all players with three blocks to go with three rebounds.

Up Next:
The Gothic Knights return to action this Saturday, Jan. 14, back at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (JMAC) as Stockton University comes to Jersey City for a 1:00 p.m. clash. NJCU has topped the Ospreys in four straight and six of the last eight, dating back to Jan. 2019.