Saturday, January 15, 2011 (Women's Basketball)

STOCKTON CRUISES PAST NJCU, 82-55

JERSEY CITY, NJ (www.NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Richard Stockton College jumped out to a 13-2 lead and was never challenged as the Ospreys led by 22 at the half and defeated New Jersey City University, 82-55, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference women's basketball game on Saturday at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center on "Coach Charlie Brown Court."

Stockton improved to 9-4 and remained undefeated in NJAC play at 4-0 while defeating the Gothic Knights (2-12, 0-5 NJAC, lost six) for the 17^th consecutive time since 1998. The Ospreys lead the all-time series, 39-12. NJCU fell to 0-7 at home this year.

Stockton used its clear size advantage to build a 49-27 halftime lead while shooting 58.8 percent in the period (20-34). The Ospreys played well, inside out, setting up their three-point attack in the first half when the visitors shot 60 percent (3-5).

Stockton finished shooting 50.8 percent overall (32-63) and 3-of-8 from three-point distance. The Ospreys distributed the ball well, and were credited with an assist of 21 of 32 made field goals while only committing 19 turnovers. Stockton also used its height to generate 11 blocked shots—the most by an opponent since Simmons College tallied 11 on December 29, 2009.

Stockton was led by the dynamic play of 6-foot-0 junior center LaTonya Oliver (West Berlin, NJ/Overbrook), who entered the game as the NCAA Division III national leader in field goal percentage at 62.8 percent. She scored 10 of the Ospreys' first 21 points and tallied 14 points and five rebounds in the first half while shooting a perfect 7-of-7 from the floor.

Oliver made her first eight shots of the game before missing on a putback midway through the second half. She finished the game with 16 points, eight rebounds and three blocks on 8-of-9 shooting.

Stockton had 13 players see time and 12 scored, with three reaching double figures. Senior forward Julia Fagan (New Britain, CT/New Britain) scored 10 of her 14 points in the second half (5-8 FG) while freshman forward Lauren Alwan (Winslow, NJ/Timber Creek) contributed 10 points (5-8 FG) and two blocks.

Sophomore 6-foot-1 forward Noelle Hogan (Mullica Hill, NJ/Clearview) provided a game-best 12 rebounds and added six points and two blocks. Sophomore guard Che'Na Thompson (Salem, NJ/Salem) finished with six points, four assists and three blocks.

For NJCU, senior guard CAROLINA GARCIA (Plainfield, NJ/Franklin) scored 11 points in the first half (4-7) and finished with 15 points on 6-of-13 shooting. 

Sophomore guards GABRIELLE RIVERA (Teaneck, NJ/Saint Joseph of the Palisades) and NIDIA CARMONA (Elizabeth, NJ/Elizabeth) each had seven points in the first half as Garcia, Rivera and Carmona accounted for 25 of NJCU's 27 points in the opening 20 minutes.

Carmona collected 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting and made two threes (2-4), while adding six assists and six rebounds. Rivera recorded a career-high 13 points (6-15 FG) and now has 29 points in three games since transferring to NJCU from Caldwell College at the holiday break.

NJCU shot 30.9 percent overall (21-68) and 3-of-15 from three-point distance (.200) but did convert 83.3 percent of its foul shots (10-12). Stockton had a decisive 46-18 advantage in the paint and 33-7 from its bench.

NJCU is back in action on Monday, January 17 at 12 p.m. in a non-conference holiday game against New York City College of Technology in Brooklyn, NY. Stockton hosts Baruch College that evening at 6 p.m.

—www.njcugothicknights.com—