SUAREZ' DOUBLE-DOUBLE VAULTS NJCU OVER YORK, 72-54

JERSEY CITY, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Freshman forward MARIA SUAREZ (Cliffside Park, NJ/Cliffside Park) notched her third 20-point effort of the season and her fourth double-double while sophomore guard GABRIELLE RIVERA (Teaneck, NJ/Saint Joseph of the Palisades) netted a career-high 16 points as New Jersey City University opened a double-digit lead late in the first half and cruised to a 72-54 win over York College (NY) in a non-conference women's basketball game on Monday night at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center on "Coach Charlie Brown Court."

NJCU wins its first home game of the season (1-7) and improves to 4-14 on the year. York fell to 7-10 with its third loss in a row. NJCU leads the all-time series, 7-0 (1975 and 1976 results unknown). The Gothic Knights are 4-3 this season against members of the City University of New York Athletic Conference (CUNYAC).

Suarez had 14 of her 22 points in the second half, shooting 7-of-20 overall and 7-of-8 from the foul line, with 11 rebounds (seven offensive), four steals and three assists. Rivera netted a pair of threes (2-5) and shot 5-of-13 overall with 16 points, four rebounds and three assists while sophomore point guard NIDIA CARMONA (Elizabeth, NJ/Elizabeth) had a brilliant all-around effort with 10 points (5-8 FG), six assists, six steals and six rebounds.

Senior guard CAROLINA GARCIA (Plainfield, NJ/Franklin) contributed 11 points and three assists to increase her 10^th place career scoring total to 847. It was NJCU's second game in which four players netted double figures in points this year.

Also for NJCU, freshman forward ALNISA HERNAIZ (Irvington, NJ/Irvington) posted her sixth 10+ rebound performance of the year, finishing with 10 boards and six points (3-5 FG). Sophomore forward DELIA CHERNEZ (Union City, NJ/Union City) totaled eight rebounds and sophomore forward MAXINE KAMINSKI (Kearny, NJ/Kearny) added seven rebounds, five points and three assists.

For York, senior guard Maimouna Dabo (Bamako, Mali/Lycee Notre Dame du Niger) scored 12 of her game-high 23 points (8-20 FG) in the second half, shooting 8-of-20 overall.

Senior forward Shayna Smith (Brooklyn, NY/August Martin) collected nine points and nine rebounds (4-10 FG). Sophomore guard Shadae Rice (Brooklyn, NY/Grandstreet Campus) finished with nine points, five rebounds and three steals but shot 2-of-13 and had eight of the Cardinals' 25 turnovers.

Trailing 11-7, NJCU uncorked a 10-0 run behind four points from Suarez and Hernaiz to gain a 17-11 cushion. Ahead 23-20 with 5:49 left in the period, the Knights scored six of the final eight points for a 29-22 halftime advantage. At 3:12, a slashing layup off a pretty feed from Carmona made it 25-20 before Hernaiz extended the lead to 27-20 (2:36). With 1:03 left in the half, Carmona picked off a pass, raced down the floor in a 2-on-1 and delivered a fast break bounce pass that was converted by Garcia.

With 15:57 left in the second half, NJCU took a 10-point lead (34-24) on a Suarez steal which led to a Carmona fast break layup. Dabo picked up her fourth foul of the game at 15:38. York cut it to seven, 34-27, before NJCU exploded for the next seven points. The Knights manufactured a 16-1 run and led 50-28 after Suarez drained a three, moments after Carmona had a pretty up and under drive on the baseline (47-28). A three by Rivera pushed the advantage to 53-30—the largest advantage of the game with 9:24 remaining. NJCU led by 15 points or more the remainder of the night, cruising to victory.

NJCU will next host Montclair State University in a New Jersey Athletic Conference game on Wednesday, January 26 at 6 p.m. York hosts Hunter College in a CUNYAC game at the same time.

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