JERSEY CITY, N.J. — After beginning the New Year with a victory over Rutgers-Newark, the New Jersey City University women's basketball team played its first home game of 2024 today, Wednesday, Jan. 10, at the John J. Moore Athletic and Fitness Center. The Green and Gold started the game off slow, but eventually kicked in to high gear to take their second win in a row by defeating New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) opponent Rutgers-Camden, 89-51. Senior guard Damaris Rodriguez (Secaucus, N.J./Secaucus) finished with her second double-double of the season — and second in a row — scoring a game-high 20 points and dishing out 10 assists. Junior guard Alaisha Mumford (Jersey City, N.J./Lincoln) also finished in double figures, including a perfect 3-for-3 shooting from distance. Sophomore guard Elyssa Russo (Teaneck, N.J./Teaneck) ended with a season-high 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting and 2-of-3 from deep. The Gothic Knights played stellar team defense as the game went on, forcing the Scarlet Raptors into 42 turnovers, including 24 steals, eight of which came from Tahirah Kelley (Linden, N.J./Immaculate Conception), a career-high for the sophomore guard. 

As mentioned, NJCU (8-5, 6-2 NJAC) began the afternoon slowly, and the Scarlet Raptors (0-15, 0-8 NJAC) capitalized by jumping out to an early 9-2 lead. Mumford came in as the first sub and hit her first three with 7:02 left in the quarter. That basket began a 12-4 run by the Green and Gold, six of which were scored by Mumford from deep.  NJCU found itself in foul trouble towards the end of the first, which allowed Rutgers-Camden to take back the advantage and hold a slim 18-15 lead going into the second quarter.

The Gothic Knights adjusted their defense coming out of the short break, with head coach Pat Devaney, Sr. deciding to amp up the pressure. Defense turned into offense and the Green and Gold used a 13-6 run to reclaim the lead. Both teams would trade punches for the remainder of the half, but the Gothic Knights shooting performance of 4-for-8 from the three point line over the final stretch of the half propelled them into the intermission with a 39-35 lead despite only four total attempts at the free throw line.

The start of the second half was a much better display on both ends of the court for NJCU. The defensive intensity continued to ramp up and the Gothic Knights were able to extend their lead to the largest of the day so far, a 45-36 lead with 6:14 left in the third. The Gothic Knights dominated the remainder of the period, holding the Scarlet Raptors to five points and scored 19 without a three-point make.

The fourth quarter began with Russo nailing a nice running floater and then drilling her first three of the day in the next possession. NJCU continued to erupt offensively, as the squad scored 31 total points in the final 10 minutes of action to comfortably see off Rutgers-Camden.

Up Next:
Rodriguez came into today 29 points shy of the all-time scoring record at NJCU. She needs 10 more points to eclipse Monique Hemingway '89 this Saturday, Jan 13, when the Gothic Knights hit the road to take on Stockton University in Galloway, N.J. Rodriguez and NJCU take on the Osprey's with a scheduled 3:00 p.m. tip.