GALLOWAY, N.J. | New Jersey City University's (NJCU) women's basketball team fell to Stockton 72-55 on Tuesday evening at the Sports Center despite a spirited fourth-quarter comeback attempt.
NJCU (8-10, 6-8) shot 31.1% from the field and 28% from range in the loss. Bailey Cassell (Palmdale, Calif./Pete Knight) paced the Gothic Knights with a career-high 22 points on 7-of-12 shooting, including 5-of-8 from beyond the arc. Na'tori Postell (Passaic, N.J./Passaic Arts & Science Charter) added 17 points, while Meghan Gentile (Roseland, N.J./Immaculate Conception) contributed nine points.
Stockton (12-9, 9-5) was led by Zemira Enalls, who recorded a double-double with 19 points and a game-high 18 rebounds, including nine offensive boards. Mayisyn McNair added 16 points, while Grace Speer came off the bench to provide 15 points. The Ospreys dominated the paint to the tune of 38-12.
The Gothic Knights struck first as Cassell drained a three-pointer assisted by Postell to give NJCU an early 3-0 lead. Cassell found the bottom of the net again moments later to keep the Gothic Knights in the driver's seat. Postell put NJCU up six, but that's where the offense stalled as the Ospreys took the lead via an 8-0 run. The Gothic Knights kept it close, thanks to the efforts of Cassell, who hit a three-point bucket with 59 seconds left to bring NJCU within one.
In the second quarter, Stockton flexed its muscles and tallied a game-high 25 points. The Gothic Knights remained within striking distance of the Ospreys until the four-minute mark, when Stockton took its first double-digit lead of the game. It was a 10-0 run for Stockton that set NJCU back as the Ospreys' lead ballooned to 17 points in just over a minute. Gentile and Postell hit baskets down the stretch to bring life into NJCU's offense, however, Stockton took a 15-point lead into the break.
NJCU's offense was held to 10 points in the third stanza while Stockton's offense picked up where they left off in the second and tallied 21 third-quarter points. A layup by McNair put Stockton ahead by 21, a lead they carried to the end of the quarter.
The Gothic Knights surged in the fourth, tallying 18 points, however it wasn't enough to overcome their deficit as Stockton held onto the NJAC win.
Up Next:
NJCU returns to action on Thursday, February 5, when it hosts Brooklyn College at 7:00 pm.
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