MONTCLAIR, N.J. — The New Jersey City University women's basketball team earned its fifth win in a row on Wednesday, Jan. 18, sweeping the regular-season series over Montclair State University in New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) play. NJCU won in dominant fashion, 72-52, while junior guard
Damaris Rodriguez (Secaucus, N.J./Secaucus) became the first player to earn 1,000 points exclusively in the Green and Gold since Latrese McNair in 2007.
Jersey City (7-8, 7-3 NJAC) opened up to its strongest start of the season, as the Green and Gold scored a season-high 21 points in the first quarter. While Montclair (8-9, 5-5 NJAC) scored 12 points in the quarter as a team, the Red Hawks found most of their production in the first four minutes, producing a 6-2 run to tie the score at 6-6 with 5:40 remaining. However, that was the closest to a lead the Red Hawks came all game as NJCU answered back with a 14-0 run to take control early. In that span, Rodriguez converted four field goals, including a momentum-changing three after senior guard
Jada Camacho's (Jersey City, N.J./Dickinson) three-point make to start the run off for NJCU.
The fourth and final field goal made by Rodriguez was the most critical though, as with 2:19 left in the first, she notched her second steal of the game and led NJCU down the court on a fast break. Rodriguez, then hustling down the right side of the lane, converted a slightly contested layup to put herself into the 1,000-point club. With the make, NJCU expanded its lead to 14 points and led 20-6. The Red Hawks put together a 6-1 run to close out the first and cut the deficit down to 21-12 at quarter's end.
The second saw a similar result to the first as Rodriguez again converted three more field goals to expand on her milestone. In the quarter, NJCU got its first opportunity to showcase junior guard
Sarah Edmond (Bloomfield, NJ/Bloomfield), who notched her first points of the season after playing in her first game since Apil. 3, 2021, when NJCU won the NJAC championship during a shortened pandemic season. Edmond totaled seven minutes in the contest, tallying six points in her return. The Green and Gold outscored Montclair 17-13 in the quarter, earning a 38-25 lead at the break.
The second half was no different to the first as NJCU outscored the Red Hawks 34-27. NJCU allowed a game-high 15 points in the fourth, but did not allow Montclair cut down the deficit as the closest the Red Hawks managed was within 15 points. Rodrigez also went on to convert seven more field goals in the second half, matching her points total from the first contest earlier on in the season with 33. Camacho also cracked double digits in the second half, ending the game with 11 points, while junior center
Jimmirah Johnson (Prospect Park, N.J./International) corralled multiple rebounds in the second half to lead the squad with seven total. NJCU earned its seventh conference victory of the season by a score of 72-52.
Up Next:
The Green and Gold return to action Saturday, Jan. 21, at Packer Hall in Ewing, N.J., as they travel to The College of New Jersey for a 3:00 p.m. tip-off, following the completion of the 1:00 p.m. men's game. NJCU looks for redemption as the Gothic Knights fell, 43-39, in a defensive affair in the first matchup of the season on Dec. 3 back at the John J. Moore Athletic and Fitness Center (JMAC).
