JERSEY CITY, N.J. - The New Jersey City University (NJCU) women's basketball team earned a significant 71-62 victory over Stockton University on Wednesday, February 5, at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center.
This NJAC win was powered by standout performances from sophomore
Autumn John (Piscataway, N.J./Piscataway) and senior guard
Destiny Battle (East Orange, N.J./East Orange STEM Academy), who were pivotal in securing the team's eighth win of the season. NJCU shot 36.1% from the field (22-61), 36.4% from beyond the arc (8-22), and 73.1% from the free-throw line (19-26), while Stockton struggled from three-point range, shooting only 23.5% (4-17), and were limited to 64.3% (18-28) from the charity stripe.
Despite Stockton out-rebounding the Gothic Knights 41-31 and having a strong bench performance (25 points to NJCU's 10), the Gothic Knights capitalized on key statistical categories, including forcing 26 turnovers, which resulted in 24 points off turnovers, and dominating fast-break points (13-7).
Destiny Battle (East Orange, N.J./East Orange STEM Academy) was the driving force for NJCU, posting a season-high 20 points, with 10 of those coming from the free-throw line (10-14). In addition to her scoring, she also dished out a game-high nine assists, grabbed six rebounds, recorded four steals, and added a block. Alongside her,
Autumn John (Piscataway, N.J./Piscataway) made her mark by recording her first career double-double. She finished with 14 points on 6-of-12 shooting, grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds, and contributed two steals, one assist, and one block. Junior guard
Tahirah Kelley (Linden, N.J./Immaculate Conception) also had an efficient night, contributing 13 points and two assists, including 3-for-4 shooting from beyond the arc, and a perfect 4-for-4 from the free-throw line. Junior guard
Elyssa Russo (Teaneck, N.J./Teaneck) contributed a career-high six steals, along with eight points and two assists.
Stockton, on the other hand, was led by Imene Fathi, who finished with 17 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and five steals. ChiChi Wokocha added 14 points and eight rebounds, while Grace Speer contributed 10 points and eight rebounds.
The game was competitive from the start, with both teams exchanging leads early in the first quarter. Tied at 5, NJCU gained momentum when
Tahirah Kelley (Linden, N.J./Immaculate Conception) hit a three-pointer that sparked an 8-2 run, giving the Gothic Knights a 13-7 lead by the end of the first quarter. Stockton kept the deficit manageable throughout the second quarter, but NJCU managed to push ahead late in the period. With 1:13 remaining,
Destiny Battle (East Orange, N.J./East Orange STEM Academy) made two clutch free throws, pushing the lead to 32-21—the first double-digit advantage of the night for NJCU. Stockton fought back with two quick baskets in the final minute, but NJCU still held a 32-25 lead going into halftime. Battle led the way for NJCU at the half with 11 points, five assists, and four steals, while
Autumn John (Piscataway, N.J./Piscataway) dominated the glass with eight rebounds.
The second half began with Stockton's Fathi scoring five quick points, narrowing the NJCU lead to just one possession. However, NJCU responded with a 12-2 run, highlighted by a layup from
Autumn John (Piscataway, N.J./Piscataway) following a nice assist from Battle, to extend their lead to 44-32. Stockton quickly mounted a response with a 9-0 run of their own, cutting the deficit to just three points (44-41) with 1:33 left in the third quarter. But,
Autumn John (Piscataway, N.J./Piscataway) answered back with a crucial three-pointer in the corner to end the third quarter, sending NJCU into the final period with a 47-41 advantage.
The fourth quarter saw Stockton continue to battle, and with 1:13 remaining, Grace Speer scored in the paint to bring the Ospreys to within one basket at 63-60. With the pressure mounting, sophomore forward
Kendra Rigo (Bethlehem, Pa./Bethlehem Catholic) hit a huge three-pointer with just 46 seconds left to push the lead back to six (66-60). From there, the Gothic Knights sealed the victory at the free-throw line, converting five more free throws down the stretch to secure a 71-62 win.
UP NEXT:
The Gothic Knights return to action on Saturday, February 8 as they head to William Paterson for a 1:00 p.m. NJAC matchup.
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.
