Monday, December 6, 2010 (Women's Basketball)

19 FROM GARCIA NOT ENOUGH AS NJCU FALLS TO LEHMAN, 75-59

JERSEY CITY, NJ (www.NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Senior guard CAROLINA GARCIA (Plainfield, NJ/Franklin) scored 19 points but it wasn't enough as Lehman College had two players score more than 20 points, and New Jersey City University saw its losing streak extended to four games after falling to the Lightning, 75-59, in a non-conference women's basketball game played on Monday night at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center on "Coach Charlie Brown Court." 

The Gothic Knights' record falls to 1-6, while the Lightning improve to 5-3 and even the all-time series at 3-3. Lehman forced 31 Gothic Knight turnovers and made 20 steals; the visitors only committed 16 giveaways. Lehman had a 26-12 margin in points off turnovers which made the difference because NJCU won the rebounding battle, 61-45.

Despite the loss, NJCU had several standout performances in the game.  Garcia had 19 points (8-22 FG), three assists, two blocks and two steals and freshman forward ALNISA HERNAIZ (Irvington, NJ/Irvington) recorded her first career double-double, with a 12-point, 13-rebound showing, while adding three steals and two blocks.

Her frontcourt partner, sophomore forward MAXINE KAMINSKI (Kearny, NJ/Kearny) posted a double-double of her own with 10 points and 12 rebounds. It was her first career double-double and a career high for boards.

Sophomore forward DELIA CHERNEZ (Union City, NJ/Union City), had scored just 21 points in her first 27 career games but the player known for her defense posted career-highs with eight points and nine rebounds. Sophomore point guard

NIDIA CARMONA (Elizabeth, NJ/Elizabeth) dished out a game-high seven assists and managed to score seven points herself.  The NJAC leader in offensive rebounding, freshman swing MARIA SUAREZ (Cliffside Park, NJ/Cliffside Park) pulled down four more in the loss and tallied seven caroms in all.

The Lightning were led by junior guard Amanda De La Cruz (New York, NY/ NYC Museum School), who led all scorers with 24 points on 10-of-19 shooting, while adding six steals, five rebounds and four assists. Senior point guard Louvinia Hayes (Bronx, NY/Lehman), who entered play leading the CUNYAC in scoring at 20.1, raised her average by racking up 23 points (7-20 FG, 3-11 3FG, 6-10 FT) and seven rebounds, and added five assists and five steals in 37 minutes.

Sophomore guard Paula Robinson (Bronx, NY/Francis Lewis) also reached double digits with 10 points, adding six rebounds, three assists and two steals. Junior center Jaleesa Gordon (Queens, NY/Campus Magnet) collected eight points (4-9 FG), eight rebounds and five blocked shots and sophomore center Alicia McDaniel (Bronx, NY/George Washington) added eight points, four blocks and four rebounds.

The game started auspiciously for the Knights, who gained an early 7-2 lead. A jumper by Chernez increased the NJCU lead to 14-8 just 8:56 prior to the half, which proved to be the largest lead the Knights had in the contest.

The Lightning struck back, erasing the deficit with an 11-0 run that resulted in a 19-14 lead with 6:50 left in the period. Lehman held three nine-point leads in the half, including 28-19, each on baskets by Gordon, De La Cruz and Robinson.

In the second half, Garcia hit a three to cut the deficit to seven (34-27) before Lehman twice gained an 11-point advantage, including a 42-31 difference on a pair of Hayes foul shots. Garcia again trimmed it to seven (42-35) with 13:43 remaining. But Lehman quickly pushed the lead back to double digits and it remained there the remainder of the night. The visitor's largest lead was 18 with 32 seconds to go.

The Gothic Knights face a second-straight CUNYAC foe when they travel to the Doghouse on Wednesday night, December 8, to face John Jay College at 5 p.m. before returning to Jersey City to host SUNY Brockport on Saturday, December 11 at 1 pm. Lehman next plays on December 11 when it hosts nationally No. 1 ranked Amherst College at 6 p.m.

—www.NJcugothicknights.com—