Saturday, November 20, 2010 (Women's Basketball)

ROOKIE MARIA SUAREZ NOTCHES DOUBLE-DOUBLE BUT NJCU FALLS TO ALBRIGHT, 65-45

NEW YORK, NY (www.NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Freshman swing player MARIA SUAREZ (Cliffside Park, NJ/Cliffside Park) achieved her first career double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds but Albright College shot close to 52 percent in the first half to gain a 19-point lead and handed New Jersey City University a 65-45 setback in the consolation game of the 2010-11 Hunter College Tip-Off at the Hunter Sportsplex on Saturday.

Albright improves to 1-1 while the Gothic Knights drop to 0-2; it was the first-ever meeting between the schools. The Lions shot 51.7 percent in the first half (15-29) and made 27-of-60 overall (.450). NJCU struggled from the floor, hitting 19-of-78 (.244).

Suarez netted 20 points, including 14 of the 24 scored by NJCU in the second half, and shot 9-of-19 with 11 rebounds, three blocks and two steals. Senior guard CAROLINA GARCIA (Plainfield, NJ/Franklin) chalked up 11 points (5-15 FG) in 40 minutes. Freshman forward ALNISA HERNAIZ (Irvington, NJ/Irvington) grabbed 10 rebounds (seven offensive) but didn't score (0-11 FG).

Also for NJCU, sophomore forward MAXINE KAMINSKI (Kearny, NJ/Kearny) had seven points and seven rebounds. Sophomore point guard NIDIA CARMONA (Elizabeth, NJ/Elizabeth) finished with eight rebounds, five points (2-16 FG) and four assists.

The Lions received 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting from senior guard Jessica McGinness (Norristown, Pa.), who added five assists. Freshman 6-foot-0 center Meghan Boyle (Monson, Mass.) tallied a double-double of 13 points (5-9 FG) and 10 rebounds. Senior forward Rose Williamson (Philadelphia, Pa.) and junior guard Jenny Knoebel (Blue Bell, Pa.) each contributed eight points and senior point guard Rory Yerkes (Jenkintown, Pa.) guided the Lions with five assists and six points.

Albright never trailed in the game and gained early leads of 7-0 and 15-2 before heading to the half ahead 40-21. Its largest first half lead was 20 points.

The second half was more evenly played—a 25-24 edge for the Lions. Albright's largest lead was 24 on two occasions (45-21, 17:10 left; 61-37, 3:58 left). The Lions had a 42-24 advantage in points in the paint and its reserves outscored the NJCU bench, 18-2.

NJCU returns to action on Monday, November 22 at 6 p.m. when it visits Medgar Evers College in a non-conference contest in Brooklyn, NY.

—www.njcugothicknights.com—