By: Contact: Alex Falk; Director of Athletic Communications, Digital and Creative Services
PITMAN, N.J. — New Jersey City University women's basketball standout junior guard
Damaris Rodriguez (Secaucus, N.J./Secaucus) had another dominant couple of games last week and because of that, was named New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Player of the Week for the second consecutive time. Additionally, for the second time this season and fourth time in her career, Rodriguez was selected to the D3hoops.com National Team of the Week.
Rodriguez led Jersey City to a pair of NJAC victories last week, including a thrilling buzzer beater on Saturday, Jan. 14. She averaged 24.5 points, 8.0 rebounds and 7.5 assists over 38.1 minutes per game. She began with game-highs in points (21), assists (9) and rebounds (8) in the 70-51 road win at Rutgers-Camden on Wednesday night, Jan. 11. Then, in Saturday's buzzer-beating 59-56 win over Stockton University at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (JMAC), Rodriguez again led all players in points (28) and assists (6) and had a team-high in rebounds (8). With time set to expire, Rodriguez got the ball baseline and drained the game-winner (and drew the foul and made the shot).
As mentioned, Rodriguez now boasts two D3hoops.com Team of the Week honors this season and four for her career. She is now an eight-time NJAC Player of the Week, including three this season. Statistically, Rodriguez leads the NJAC in scoring (24.1 points per game), assists per game (5.5), made field goals (120) and minutes per game (36.9) and is second in free-throw percentage (93.3). Among all players in NCAA Division III, she is third in scoring, fifth in free-throw percentage, 10th in made field goals and 11th in assists per game.
Milestone Watch:
The Gothic Knights' all-star point guard is now just eight points away from reaching the 1,000 mark for her career. When she reaches that plateau, she will become the first to do so entirely in a NJCU uniform since Latrese McNair accomplished that feat back in 2007.
Up Next:
She and the rest of the Green and Gold return to action on Wednesday night, Jan. 18, for a scheduled-5:30 p.m. tip on the road at Montclair State University. The Gothic Knights have topped the Red Hawks in three straight meetings, as well as four of the last five, and have won three straight against MSU in Montclair, N.J.
