WAYNE, N.J. - The New Jersey City University (NJCU) women's basketball team's season came to a heartbreaking end in the quarterfinals of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) playoffs on Saturday, Feb. 22, as they were edged by #3 William Paterson, 55-54, in a thrilling contest at the Sports and Recreation Center.

The Gothic Knights shot 40.7% from the field, making 24 of 59 attempts. They were also effective from beyond the arc, hitting 36.4% of their three-point attempts (4-of-11). However, their struggles came at the free-throw line, where they converted only 40% of their attempts (2-of-5).

On the other hand, William Paterson had a less efficient shooting night, making just 30.3% of their field goals (20-of-66) and struggling even more from three-point range, where they connected on only 11.8% of their attempts (2-of-17). However, the Pioneers were excellent at the free-throw line, converting 92.9% of their attempts (13-of-14).

In terms of team categories, William Paterson had a notable advantage in several areas. They outscored NJCU 22-10 in points off turnovers. The Pioneers also had the edge in second-chance points, 7-6, and in points in the paint, 34-32. Additionally, they outpaced NJCU 7-2 in fast-break points. Despite this, NJCU managed to outscore WP in bench points, 6-4.

Autumn John (Piscataway, N.J./Piscataway) had a career-high 18 points, shooting an impressive 8-of-11 from the field. She was perfect from beyond the arc, hitting both of her three-point attempts (2-2), and added eight rebounds, one block, and one assist. Destiny Battle (East Orange, N.J./East Orange STEM Academy) scored 14 points, contributing 6-of-15 shooting from the floor. She also grabbed four rebounds, dished out four assists, and recorded two steals. Kendra Rigo (Bethlehem, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic) contributed eight points on 3-of-7 shooting and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. She also recorded two blocks, providing a strong presence in the paint on both ends of the floor. Tahirah Kelley (Linden, N.J./Immaculate Conception), a defensive standout, secured three steals in addition to contributing three points.

For William Paterson, Brianna Smith led all scorers with 25 points, going a perfect 8-of-8 from the free-throw line. She also had three rebounds, three assists, and three steals, making her a major factor in both the scoring and defensive departments. Patty Walsh added 10 points and five rebounds, playing a solid all-around game. Jada Jacobs was a dominant force on the boards, pulling down a game-high 11 rebounds. She also had four steals and three assists, helping to fuel the Pioneers' defensive efforts.

The game started with both teams evenly matched in the first quarter, each trading baskets to finish the period tied at 15. NJCU (10-16, 9-9 NJAC) was led by sophomore Autumn John (Piscataway, N.J./Piscataway), who contributed 10 of the team's 15 points in the opening quarter. William Paterson (19-7, 14-4 NJAC), led by Brianna Smith, managed to gain a slight advantage early, but John's hot shooting kept the game tight. In the second quarter, NJCU came out strong, with John continuing her scoring spree to give the Gothic Knights a 19-15 lead. The team went on a 7-0 run, increasing their lead to double digits by the 4:09 mark, before pushing it even further to 14 points (34-20) with a late layup by senior Destiny Battle (East Orange, N.J./East Orange STEM Academy). The Pioneers cut into the lead with a three-pointer by Victoria Palladino just before halftime, making it 34-23.

The momentum shifted dramatically in the second half, as NJCU struggled to maintain their advantage. The third quarter saw the Gothic Knights go scoreless for the final five minutes, allowing William Paterson to go on a 15-0 run. This shift in momentum meant that NJCU, once up by 14 points, found themselves trailing 42-40 heading into the final period. The Pioneers carried that momentum into the fourth quarter, opening with an 8-0 run to take their first double-digit lead of the game (50-40). However, NJCU wasn't done yet. They fought back with a 7-0 run, including five points from Battle, bringing the game back within one possession at 50-47.

In a dramatic final stretch, junior Elyssa Russo (Teaneck, N.J./Teaneck) hit a clutch jumper in the paint with 1:32 left to tie the game at 52. With just 12 seconds left, Smith drilled a three-pointer to give William Paterson a crucial 55-52 lead, one-of-two three-pointers WP would make all afternoon. NJCU had one final opportunity, as Kendra Rigo (Bethlehem, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic) scored a layup at the buzzer, but it wasn't enough to complete the comeback, and the Gothic Knights' season came to a bitter close.

William Paterson advances to the next round of the NJAC tournament, where they will face #2 Montclair State in the semifinals on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at 7:00 p.m.
 
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