NORTON, MA (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New Jersey City University senior shooting guard GABRIELLE RIVERA (Teaneck, NJ/Saint Joseph of the Palisades) scored a game and career-high 20 points as the Gothic Knights whittled a 12-point deficit to single digits in the final minute before dropping a 54-48 decision to SUNY Oneonta, in the season opening Cheryl Warren-Powers '95 Memorial Tournament, hosted by Wheaton College (Mass.) on November 17 at Emerson Gymnasium.
NJCU (0-1), opening its 43rd season of intercollegiate action, will face Lesley University—70-30 losers to host Wheaton on Saturday—in the tournament's consolation game on Sunday, November 18 at 1 p.m.
NJCU scored the first 10 points of the game before Oneonta (1-1) responded and gained a 27-18 lead at halftime in the first meeting between the schools since November 21, 2004. The Red Dragons are 3-0 all-time against NJCU.
Rivera scored 12 of her 20 in the second half when NJCU outscored Oneonta, 30-27. She shot 9-of-12 from the floor (2-4 3FG) in 32 minutes of action. Junior forwardALNISA HERNAIZ (Irvington, NJ/Irvington) grabbed a game-best 13 rebounds (10 defensively)—her 18th career double-digit rebounding effort and added six points.
Senior forward MAXINE KAMINSKI (Kearny, NJ/Kearny) and sophomore guard ASHLEY VAZQUEZ (Jersey City, NJ/Marist), a transfer from Division II Slippery Rock University, each collected nine points and six rebounds.
READ MORE: http://njcugothicknights.com/news/2012/11/17/11-17-12_WBASKETBALL_NJCU_vs._Oneonta.aspx