JERSEY CITY, N.J. — The New Jersey City University women's basketball team took on a tough challenge Sunday, Jan. 29, as they hosted the #3/1-ranked team in the country (D3hoops.com/WBCA), Christopher Newport University at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (JMAC). The Gothic Knights lost the game, 88-64, to the Captains after a strong fourth quarter for the top-ranked visitors.
Jersey City (9-10, 9-4 NJAC) played the first half with urgency as the offense converted at 40 percent from the field. Unfortunately for NJCU, the Captains (20-0), who came into the game averaging nearly 90 points per game, showed their offensive capabilities early, as they produced a combined-45 points in the first half, with 27 of them being scored in the first quarter. The Gothic Knights produced 33 points, and trailed by 12, 45-33 at half.
The third became the momentum changer for NJCU as despite a slow start in the first half for junior guard Damaris Rodriguez (Secaucus, N.J./Secaucus), both her and junior center Jimmirah Johnson (Prospect Park, N.J./International) were electric in the quarter, combining 18 of the 22 points over those 10 minutes. Senior guard Jada Camacho (Jersey City, N.J./Dickinson) tallied the other four points, but played very limited time on the floor in the quarter as she dealt with foul trouble at the midway point. Despite the foul troubles, both Camacho and Johnson's defense when on the floor played a crucial role as NJCU's defense only allowed 18 points in the third, enabling the Green and Gold to cut the deficit down to single digits. At the end of the 30 minutes of play, the Captains lead 63-55.
The fourth saw Rodriguez continue to keep NJCU in the picture as she scored the teams first six points, but unfortunately those makes did not last as long as the Gothic Knights would have wanted as, with 6:04 left NJCU trailed again by eight at 69-61. Unfortunately for NJCU, the momentum would also shift back in Christopher Newport's favor as the Captains played a near-perfect final six minutes as a team. CNU produced a 19-3 run and come game's end, won by a final score of 88-64.
The difference maker in the game for NJCU came down to turnovers, as Christopher Newport forced 31 in total from the Gothic Knight's offense. NJCU in the third shot a strong 50 percent from the field, but with a variety of turnovers over the final six minutes, Jersey City was held to only 12 shots in the fourth, converting only three.
Highlights:
- With her last make in the fourth quarter, Rodriguez expanded her streak of scoring 20-plus points to 14 consecutive games.
- Johnson produced her second double-double of the season, matching her season high of 14 points as well as snagging 10 rebounds and a season high two blocks.
- Despite being limited to just over 20 minutes on the floor due to foul trouble, Camacho was a respectable 3-of-5 from the field along with a game-high three steals.
Up Next:
The Green and Gold travel on the road to Mahwah, N.J., Wednesday, Jan. 28, as the team begins its last stretch of New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) play against Ramapo College. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m., with the men's game to follow.
