MONTCLAIR, N.J. | Meghan Gentile (Roseland, N.J./Immaculate Conception) dropped a team-high 20 points in the 83-61 loss to Montclair State University on Wednesday night, ending their New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) postseason hopes. The loss for the Gothic Knights is their fourth straight overall and fourth straight against the Red Hawks.
NJCU (8-13, 6-10) received 15 and 13 points, respectively, from Na'Tori Postell and Autumn John (Piscataway, N.J./Piscataway). John also led the team with seven rebounds, while Gentile dished out six assists. As a team, the Gothic Knights shot 37.3% from the field, including 75% from the charity stripe.
Montclair (14-9, 10-6) was led by Shannon Hughes, who scored a game-high 22 points. Bella Bruce recorded the lone double-double of the game with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Hughes hit a three-point basket to open the game for Montclair, but that lead didn't hold for long as John quickly converted a pair of layups to give NJCU a one-point lead. NJCU's offense would go cold for five minutes after John hit the layup, which allowed the Red Hawks to regain the lead and push it to as much as 13 with 3:28 to go. Gentile broke the cold spell with a jumper that ignited NJCU's offense enough to take a six-point deficit into the second quarter.
NJCU cut the lead down to four to start the second quarter, but a quick offensive burst by Montclair extended its lead to 11. NJCU continued to chip away at the lead and once again cut it down to four, thanks to a layup by Dasani Talley Dorman (Camden, N.J./Woodbury Junior-Senior). Hughes refused to let the Gothic Knights take the momentum into the break as she converted a long-range shot to put Montclair back up by seven.
John brought NJCU the closest they were all game when she converted a three-point basket with 8:32 remaining in the third to put NJCU behind by two. Once again, NJCU's offense stalled, allowing Montclair to extend its lead, this time to 14.
Montclair recorded its highest offensive output of the game in the final stanza, netting 28 points to prevent any NJCU comeback as they held on for the NJAC win.
Up Next:
The Gothic Knights return to action on Saturday, February 14, where they will host TCNJ for senior day at 1:00 pm at the John J. Moore Athletics & Fitness Center.
For the latest news, updates, and information on New Jersey City University Athletics, visit NJCUGothicKnights.com and follow the Gothic Knights on Facebook, X, Instagram, and YouTube.
