Saturday, December 11, 2010 (Women's Basketball)

POOR SHOOTING, TURNOVERS DOOM KNIGHTS; BROCKPORT TOPS NJCU, 62-38

JERSEY CITY, NJ (www.NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New Jersey City University shot 20.3 percent from the field and committed 26 turnovers and SUNY Brockport took advantage, creating a 27-11 margin in points off giveaways en route to a 62-38 win over the Gothic Knights in a non-conference women's basketball game on Saturday afternoon on "Coach Charlie Brown Court" at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center.

Brockport snaps a five-game losing streak with the win (2-5). NJCU (2-7) remains winless in five home games this season. Brockport leads the all-time series, 2-0; it was the first meeting between the schools since November 19, 2006.

Brockport, which shot 44.4 percent versus NJCU's 22.6 percent in the first half only led by eight (28-20) at the break before outscoring the Knights in the second period, 34-18. The 24-point final margin was its largest lead of the game.

NJCU shot 13-of-64 overall (.203) and 0-for-6 from three-point range, and connected on 6-of-33 field goals in the second period (.182).

In defeat, sophomore forward MAXINE KAMINSKI (Kearny, NJ/Kearny) grabbed a game and career-high 14 rebounds (eight defensive). Freshman forward MARIA SUAREZ (Cliffside Park, NJ/Cliffside Park) paced NJCU's scorers with 12 points (5-12 FG) and added five rebounds and three steals. Freshman forward ALNISA HERNAIZ (Irvington, NJ/Irvington) collected nine caroms.

Brockport converted 12 field goals in each period and shot 43.6 percent overall (24-55), and made 7-of-13 from three-point distance—a 53.8 percent accuracy rate.

Junior guard Liz Unger (Hamilton, NJ/Hamilton) led the Golden Eagles with a game-high 15 points as she connected on 6-of-10 shots, including 3-of-4 from three-point range in 21 minutes off the bench. The Brockport reserves outscored NJCU's subs, 33-17.

Also for the visitors, junior guard Desiree Fauvelle (Newport, NY/West Canada Valley) tallied 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting (2-4 3FG). Sophomore guard Sarah Alwardt (Rochester, NY/Greece Athena) collected seven rebounds—all defensive—with six points (2-8 FG) and four blocks. Freshman guard Alex Leung (Merrick, NY/W.C. Mepham) contributed six assists and three steals and rookie guard Mallory Buckley (Syracuse, NY/East Syracuse-Minoa) had seven points (3-4 FG, 1-1 3FG) and two blocks.

The game was competitive early on, with Brockport leading 14-12 just 8:06 prior to the intermission. An 8-0 run put the Golden Eagles in front, 22-12, with 4:18 to play in the period, as Fauvelle sank a jumper off her own blocked layup, Alwardt converted a three-point play, and Buckley added a field goal.

NJCU trimmed the deficit to two, 22-20 with an 8-0 spurt of its own. Suarez had half of the points during the run, including a jumper with 1:59 that capped the streak. Brockport scored the final six points of the half, and the last two field goals were the direct result of NJCU turnovers. Alwardt scored with 28 seconds to go as the visitors led 28-20 at the break.

NJCU struggled to score in the second half, missing several layup opportunities when the game was still manageable. Leading 32-26 in the second half, the Eagles put the game away by scoring 17 of the next 19 points for a 49-28 lead with 10:56 to play. Brockport scored 14 consecutive points over a 5:06 span as NJCU missed nine straight shots and committed four turnovers. Unger sank three-pointers with 16:19 and 14:03 showing on the clock for a 43-27 lead before Buckley added a triple for a 46-26 advantage with 12:24 to go. Another three by freshman guard Kristin Wegrzyn (Grand Island, NY/Grand Island) extended the lead to 49-28. Brockport led by at least 15 the remainder of the contest and scored the final seven points of the game to account for the final margin.

NJCU is back in action on Tuesday, December 15 at 6 p.m. when it visits the College of Staten Island in non-conference competition. Brockport is idle until January 4 when it hosts St. Lawrence University.

—www.njcugothicknights.com—