JERSEY CITY, N.J. — The New Jersey City University women's basketball team picked up a dominant victory on home court at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (JMAC) in New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) play on Wednesday night, Feb. 8, as the Gothic Knights trounced Rowan University, 93-76, behind the first-career triple-double in junior guard Damaris Rodriguez' (Secaucus, N.J./Secaucus) career. She led all players in scoring (30), assists (14) and rebounds (10) for the sixth triple-double in program history and first since 2018.

After an even first quarter, Jersey City (12-10, 12-4 NJAC) pulled away in the second en route to the 17-point victory over the Profs (15-8, 11-5 NJAC). Rodriguez had some strong help from her surrounding squad as senior guard Jada Camacho (Jersey City, N.J./Dickinson) poured in 19 points to go with seven boards and a game-high-tying three steals. Forwards junior Jimmirah Johnson (Prospect Park, N.J./International) and rookie Jalynn Clark (Irvington, N.J./Elizabeth) also finished in double-figures scoring with 10 points apiece. Senior forward Janari Newsome (Newark, N.J./Technology) played a strong game defensively and finished with seven points, five rebounds and notched a game-best and career-high four blocked shots.

NJCU started off on a 9-2 run, however Rowan came all the way back to take a six-point, 17-11 lead with 3:08 to go in the first. The Gothic Knights bounced back and the quarter ended all knotted up at 21-21. The two teams traded the lead back and forth to start the second before Jersey City went on a 19-4 run to take a 44-32 lead with 1:11 remaining in the half. Jersey City took a 10-point, 44-34 lead into the break.

The Profs did get back into it, cutting NJCU's lead back down to four points at 48-44 with 8:28 to go in the third, however the Gothic Knights once again took control and owned a 15-point, 69-54 advantage after three quarters of play. The fourth quarter saw the Gothic Knights take as much as a 23-point lead on two occasions, including as late as 3:21 remaining with score at 88-65 before closing out the 93-76 win.

Up Next:
Now locked in a tie for first place in the NJAC with Kean University, the Gothic Knights return to action on the road on Saturday afternoon, Feb. 11, down in Galloway, N.J., against Stockton University.