JERSEY CITY, N.J. – The New Jersey City University (NJCU) women's basketball team pulled off a significant upset, defeating The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) 60-46 at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center on Saturday, Jan. 18. With this victory, TCNJ is no longer the #1 seed in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) and NJCU improves to 5-10 overall and 4-5 in the NJAC, while TCNJ falls to 11-5 overall and 7-2 in conference play.

The game started with both teams struggling offensively. The first three minutes saw a combined seven turnovers, and neither team could score until NJCU's senior guard Destiny Battle (East Orange, N.J./East Orange STEM Academy) broke the scoreless tie at 7:25. From that point, the two teams exchanged baskets, but neither could gain a significant advantage, with the lead never extending beyond two points throughout the first quarter. TCNJ finished the first period with a slight 10-9 advantage.

In the second quarter, NJCU made an early push. Junior guard Elyssa Russo (Teaneck, N.J./Teaneck) sparked a 9-0 run, giving the Gothic Knights their largest lead of the first half at 18-12 with 8:28 remaining. However, TCNJ responded, chipping away at the deficit. By halftime, the Lions had reduced the gap to just one point, with the score 26-25 in favor of NJCU.

The third quarter saw TCNJ briefly regain the lead, but NJCU responded quickly. Sophomore guard Na'tori Postell (Passaic, N.J./Passaic Arts & Science Charter) came up with a crucial steal, which she converted into a fast-break layup to tie the game at 26 with 7:02 left in the period. This steal sparked a 10-3 run for NJCU, giving them a 31-26 lead. They continued to hold onto their advantage as the quarter progressed, entering the final period with a 42-38 lead.

The game shifted decisively in the fourth quarter, as NJCU took control with a dominant offensive and defensive performance. The Gothic Knights came out strong, going on an 18-4 run to start the final period. With 2:05 remaining, NJCU held a commanding 60-42 lead, their largest of the night, essentially sealing the win. Although TCNJ managed to hit a free throw and a three-pointer in the final 30 seconds, the game was already out of reach, and NJCU secured the 60-46 victory.

Destiny Battle (East Orange, N.J./East Orange STEM Academy) was a standout for NJCU, playing all 40 minutes and finishing with a season-high 18 points on 8-of-16 shooting. She also contributed seven rebounds, six steals, and four assists. Sophomore Kendra Rigo (Bethlehem, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic) had an impressive double-double, scoring 15 points and grabbing a season-high 12 rebounds while adding two blocks. Sophomore Na'tori Postell (Passaic, N.J./Passaic Arts & Science Charter) also had a solid game with 12 points, four rebounds, and two steals. Autumn John (Piscataway, N.J./Piscataway) provided strong support in the paint with six points and 10 rebounds.

On the TCNJ side, Nina Branchizio reached a career milestone by scoring her 1,000th point during the game. She finished with 11 points and five rebounds. Arianna McCleod also contributed with 10 points, seven rebounds, and two steals. Despite TCNJ's efforts, the Lions struggled offensively, shooting just 30.6% from the field and 26.9% from three-point range.

Overall, NJCU took full advantage of key moments, especially in the second half. They capitalized on points in the paint (38-10), second-chance points (17-10), and points off turnovers (11-6). Their defense, particularly in the fourth quarter, stifled TCNJ's offensive efforts and allowed NJCU to dominate the final minutes of the game. Despite shooting only 27.3% from three-point range, NJCU's defensive prowess and physicality in the paint were the difference-makers in the game.

UP NEXT:
NJCU will look to build on this momentum when they travel to Ramapo for an NJAC matchup on January 22 at 5:30 p.m.

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