Box Score
JERSEY CITY, NJ – The New Jersey City University women’s basketball had a 61-60 victory over Rowan University in a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) game on Saturday afternoon.
The Gothic Knights trailed, 57-53 with 4:24 remaining in the second half. Guard Ashley Vazquez (so. Jersey City, NJ/Marist) made a three-pointer at 3:48 to pull within one (57-56). Profs’ guard Alexis Govan (jr. Bridgeton, NJ/Camden County Technical Schools) converted one of two free throws at 3:09. Guard Kiana Briggs (fr. Paterson, NJ/Passaic County Tech) had a foul shot at 2:08 and New Jersey City was down by one (58-57). Center Kate Matthews’ (so. Clark, NJ/Arthur L. Johnson) layup (1:51) extended the lead to three (60-57). Briggs answered with a basket at the 47 second mark. With six seconds left, Vazquez sunk two free throws to give the Gothic Knights the win.
New Jersey City improves to 2-3 overall and 1-2 in the conference. The Gothic Knights snapped their 31 game NJAC losing streak. Rowan has a 2-4 record with a 0-3 conference mark.
Vazquez led the team with 19 points, while Briggs had 11. Guard Delia Chernez (sr. Union City, NJ/Union City) totaled seven points and 13 rebounds. Forward Alnisa Hernaiz (jr. Irvington, NJ/Irvington) pulled down nine boards.
For the Profs, guard Eyandra Molina (sr. Pleasantville, NJ/Washington Irving (NY)) registered 17 points, seven assists and six steals. Guard Bria Hill (so. Atlantic City, NJ/Atlantic City) and Matthews posted 16 points apiece. Matthews also had 13 rebounds. Govan chipped in with nine points and five boards. Forward Erin Farrell (sr. Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) added six rebounds and six steals.
New Jersey City was ahead, 35-27 at halftime. Vazquez’s basket at 19:50 extended the advantage to 10 points (37-27). Rowan went on a 12-4 run to pull within two (41-39) at 16:53. Govan scored five points, Hill made a three and Molina and Matthews each had a layup. At 15:11, Matthews had a basket and the game was tied at 43.
The score was 47-47 after Hill’s layup at 13:06. Molina had two (12:50) and Hill added a three-pointer (11:28) to put the Profs on top, 52-47. Guard Jade Medley (so. Queens, NY/Hudson Catholic) and Briggs had jumpers at 10:45 and 7:46 respectively to cut the deficit to one (52-51). Hill answered with a jump shot (7:20) but forward Jiana Clark (fr. Cheltenham, PA/Cheltenham) had a basket at 7:03. Matthews sunk one free throw (5:24) and Hill had a layup (4:24) to push the lead to four (57-53).
In the first half, the Gothic Knights went ahead, 8-7 at 16:21 after a layup and foul shot by Chernez. Center Deseree Johnson (fr. Red Bank, NJ/Monmouth Reg.) connected on a jump shot at 15:20. Matthews’ layup (14:04) brought Rowan within one (10-9). New Jersey City had a 6-1 surge for a six point advantage (16-10) at 12:10. Briggs scored four points and Hernaiz had two. Medley’s jump shot (7:06) extended the lead to seven (21-13).
The Profs had a 6-1 run to trail by three (22-19) at 5:37. Hill, Molina and Matthews each had a basket. At 4:03, Molina made a jumper and Rowan was down 27-23. Briggs (3:43) and Vazquez (3:22) had back-to-back baskets. Molina converted two free throws (2:20) and the score was 31-25. Guard Gabrielle Rivera (sr. Teaneck, NJ/Saint Joseph of the Palisades) and Vazquez had one layup apiece at 1:17 and :45 for a 10 point lead (35-25). Molina’s basket with 12 seconds remaining made the score, 35-27 at the half. Vazquez totaled 12 points in the period, while Molina had 11.
Rowan travels to conference opponent Kean University on Wednesday, December 5 at 6 p.m.
