UNION, N.J. - The New Jersey City University (NJCU) women's basketball team fell to New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) rival Kean, 67-56, at Harwood Arena on February 1.

Sophomore guard Na'tori Postell (Passaic, N.J./Passaic Arts & Science Charter) led the Gothic Knights with 14 points (4-16) and five rebounds, while senior guard Destiny Battle (East Orange, N.J./East Orange STEM Academy) contributed 11 points (4-13), six assists, five rebounds, two steals, and a block. Junior guard Tahirah Kelley (Linden, N.J./Immaculate Conception) also had a strong game, posting nine points, four rebounds, and a season-high six steals. Junior guard Elyssa Russo (Teaneck, N.J./Teaneck) provided a spark off the bench with nine points (3-9), three assists, and two rebounds. Autumn John (Piscataway, N.J./Piscataway) was a force on the boards, grabbing eight rebounds (six offensive), and adding four points and an assist.

Despite these efforts, the Gothic Knights (8-12, 7-6 NJAC) struggled with shooting, finishing at 29.9% (20-67) from the field. They also shot 31.3% (5-16) from three-point range and 64.7% (11-17) from the free-throw line. On the other hand, Kean (10-10, 7-6 NJAC) struggled as well, shooting 34% (18-53) from the field but dominated at the free-throw line, finishing 25-33 (75.8%) and outscoring NJCU 14-2 in second-chance points.

Kean was led by Brittany Graff, who finished with 18 points (5-14), six assists, three steals, and a rebound. Madison Vaughn posted a double-double with 12 points, 18 rebounds, four assists, and two blocks. Sela Lefler contributed 11 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and a steal, while Erika Mercedes added eight points, 14 rebounds, five steals, and a block.

The game got off to a rough start for NJCU, as Kean opened with a 12-0 run, fueled by two early three-pointers from Graff. Postell attempted to spark the offense, scoring five points to trim the deficit to 15-5, but Kean responded with another 13-0 run, taking a commanding 28-5 lead at halftime. The Gothic Knights struggled with shooting in the first half, making just one of 14 shots in the first quarter and finishing the half shooting 25% (7-28) from the field.

In the second quarter, NJCU's defense stepped up. They held Kean to just three points while scoring 14 of their own, cutting the deficit to 31-19 at the break. The Gothic Knights forced nine turnovers from Kean in the quarter, converting one into points.

The Gothic Knights came out strong in the second half, opening with a 7-3 run to close the gap to 34-26. However, Kean responded with a 9-2 spurt to push the lead back to double digits at 43-30 with just over three minutes remaining in the third. Six of the 16 points Kean scored in the third came from the free-throw line, highlighting their dominance in that area.

With 2:03 left in the game, Russo hit a crucial three-pointer to trim the lead to 49-57. She followed it up with a free throw, and Battle hit a jumper to make it a two-possession game (57-52) with 1:08 left. However, Kean closed the game with a 10-4 run, all of which came from the free-throw line, to seal the win.

Despite the loss, there were positive takeaways for NJCU. Their defense, especially in forcing turnovers (NJCU had 20 points off turnovers compared to Kean's 12), and their bench contribution (15 points) were bright spots.

UP NEXT:
The Gothic Knights host Stockton on Wednesday, February 5 at 5:30 p.m.

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