BROOKLYN, N.Y. - The New Jersey City University (NJCU) women's basketball team lost 62-56 to Brooklyn on Monday, Dec. 2, in a non-conference matchup.

The Gothic Knights (2-3) struggled with shooting, hitting only 29.7% of their field goals, 33.3% from three-point range, and 59.1% from the free-throw line. Meanwhile, Brooklyn (3-3) shot 38.9% from the field, 31.8% from beyond the arc, and 65% from the line.

NJCU had the edge in points off turnovers (28-25), bench points (21-20), and fast-break points (16-8), but Brooklyn dominated in second-chance points (8-3) and points in the paint (22-20).

Individually for the Gothic Knights, junior guard Elyssa Russo (Teaneck, N.J./Teaneck) led the team with a career-high 19 points, five steals, and six rebounds. Sophomore forward Kendra Rigo (Bethlehem, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic) also set a career high, scoring 17 points while shooting 6-for-15 from the field and a perfect 5-for-5 from the free-throw line, alongside four rebounds. Sophomore forward Autumn John (Piscataway, N.J./Piscataway) recorded a team-high eight rebounds, and junior guard Elainy Pichardo (Union City, N.J./Union City) contributed a season-high eight assists.

For Brooklyn, Mary Dolgin led with 18 points, while Anna Kitch posted a double-double with 16 points, 15 rebounds, four steals, and a block.

The game saw close action early, with Brooklyn leading 14-10 after the first quarter. The Bulldogs extended their lead significantly in the second quarter, taking a 35-19 advantage into halftime. They continued their dominance after the break, starting the third quarter with a 10-0 run. At one point, Brooklyn led by as much as 45-19, but NJCU fought back with a 15-2 run, including 11 points from Russo, to cut the deficit to 47-34. Despite a strong push in the final minutes, the Gothic Knights couldn't close the gap, losing by six points.

UP NEXT:
NJCU will return to New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) action with a road game against Rutgers-Newark on Wednesday, Dec. 4, at 6:00 p.m.

For the latest news, updates, and information on New Jersey City University sports, visit njcugothicknights.com. Fans can also stay up-to-date on the latest Gothic Knights news by following NJCU Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.