GALLOWAY, N.J. – The New Jersey City University women's basketball team kicked on the afterburners to make a huge comeback against New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) competitor Stockton University on Wednesday, Jan. 12. The Gothic Knights ended the first half down to the Ospreys but battled back to win 55-49 by the final buzzer.

NJCU (4-4, 2-6 NJAC) sophomore captain Damaris Rodriguez (Secaucus, N.J./Secaucus) made the first basket of the night and ultimately ended with a stand-out, and game-high 27 points. Stockton (5-9, 3-5 NJAC) held the momentum throughout the second quarter, ultimately leading the Green & Gold 27-19 by halftime.

Freshman Liyah Allen (Hillside, N.J./Hillside) brought the pressure on the Ospreys, starting off the third quarter with two baskets. With the help of freshman Kyla Craddock's (Orange, N.J./Newark Tech) back-to-back made free throws, Jersey City had tied the score 29-29 in the last five minutes of the quarter. Both teams continued to put in the work up and down the court – with just 1.4 seconds left, junior Jada Camacho (Jersey City, N.J./Dickinson) passed the ball to junior captain Laney Fox (Parkland, Fla./Cardinal Gibbons), who hit a deep two-point shot to end the third quarter. At this point, the Gothic Knights still trailed Stockton 41-38.

Rodriguez, Fox, Allen and Camacho all hit shots in the final quarter. With just two minutes left, Allen made a fast break layup, initiating the Green & Gold lead. Following a timeout, Camacho made a jumper, putting the score at 52-49. NJCU held down the defense as Stockton ran out of time on the possession clock, leaving 20 seconds left in the game. The Ospreys regained possession, but lost it again following a pass that hit the backboard. Freshman Tahirah Kelley (Linden, N.J./Immaculate Conception) made her first NJCU appearance tonight, in addition to hitting a crucial free throw to help the Gothic Knights pull away 53-49 with 13 seconds left. Fox finalized the game with two made free throws, leaving Jersey City victorious 55-49 over the Ospreys.

Following Rodriguez's 27-point performance, Fox finished with 12 points and Allen with eight. Allen led with a game-high 18 rebounds, followed by Camacho with eight and Fox with seven. Fox led with a game-high five assists, then Camacho with three – Camacho held down the defense with three blocks in tonight's game.

What's Next: 
The Gothic Knights will return home for a NJCU basketball double-header against Montclair State University on Saturday, Jan. 15. Jersey City took down Montclair in last year's abbreviated season to win the NJAC title for the first time in the 51-year program history. Come show your support at the John J. Moore Athletics & Fitness Center (JMAC) at 1:00 p.m. or watch all the action live on GothicVision.