Mahwah, NJ: The Ramapo College women's basketball team posted their ninth win of the season with a 64-43 NJAC conference win over visiting New Jersey City University tonight at the Bradley Center. The Roadrunners now stand at 9-3 overall, 1-2 in the NJAC while the Gothic Knights fall to 3-7 overall, 0-2 in the conference.
The Roadrunners were led by rookie Jackie Jerkovich who posted a team high 12 points, as she was 6-7 from the field with five rebounds and a team high five assists. Alexa Ryan added 11 points of her own as she was 2-4 from behind the three-point line. Lindsey Gripenburg added nine point, four assists and two steals while Brittany Howes posted six points and a team high six rebounds. Kelly Haspel and Michaela Moore each contributed with seven and six points respectively.
Ramapo jumped out to a 7-0 (18:24) lead capped off by a Ryan three pointer as she was assisted by Jerkovich before the Gothic Knights got on the board with their first basket of the game by Maxine Kaminksi, 7-2 (17:30). Ramapo stretched their lead to seven two more time in the half before NJCU went on a 10-1 run that put them in the lead, 16-14 with 8:16 left in the half. The two teams traded baskets before Haspel nailed a three point shot to take a one point lead, 19-18 (6:49). The game was tied four times down the stretch before Gripenburg hit a big three with four seconds remaining for the three point lead, 31-28.
Ramapo scored the first two baskets of the second half with a layup by Howes and a three pointer by Ryan to take an eight point lead, 36-28 lead with 18:06 on the clock before NJCU cut the lead to four, 36-32 (16:54). Ramapo's Alex Milne made a jumper before Howes converted an and one play hitting her foul shot with 15:18 in the half. Ramapo started to pull away with 11:28 on the clock when Jerkovich scored six straight points to take an 18 point lead, 52-34 (8:59). Ramapo saw their biggest, 55-35 (6:26) on a made layup by Faith Flannery, she was assisted by Haspel. The Roadrunners would lead by 22 points two different times down the stretch the coming at 2:19 when Micaela Moore cut to the basket for a layup off a Ryan assist, 62-40. Ramapo would allow a three pointer by Kaminski before Moore made the final basket of the game with 32 seconds on the clock, 64-43.
Ramapo shot 47% (25-53) in the game and 45% (9-20) from the charity stripe while they made 5-9 (55%) from behind the three point line.
For NJCU, Kaminski led the team with 11 points while Alnisa Hernaiz added ten of her own along with four rebounds. Delia Chernez grabbed a team high 11 rebounds while she posted seven points and three assists. Kerri Cassarello grabbed a second best nine rebounds while Maria Suarez added five points, two steals and one assist.
The Roadrunners return to action on Saturday when they travel to NJAC rival Rowan University for a 3:00pm game.