SALEM, MA (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New Jersey City University freshman forward BRIA SMITH (Bayonne, NJ/St. Dominic Academy) had one of the great debuts in the 44-year history of the Gothic Knight women's basketball program, scoring 17 points while hauling down 17 rebounds, but host Salem State University overcame a 12-point second half deficit to edge NJCU, 66-63, in the opening game of the Salem State Tip-Off Tournament on November 15 at Twohig Gymnasium. It was the 2013-14 opener for both schools.
 

Smith shot 11-of-14 from the free throw stripe and 3-of-8 from the field to notch 17 points as four Gothic Knights reached double figures in scoring. She was balanced on the boards with eight offensive and nine defensive caroms in 28 minutes of action.
 
"We had a tough loss tonight," noted third-year head coach Amy Mulligan. "We fought hard but a few mental mistakes were the difference in the game. We have to get more of the little things down. It was a tough way to start the season but we saw a lot of positives as a coaching staff."
 
Junior point guard ASHLEY VAZQUEZ(Jersey City, NJ/Marist) scored 15 points and had five steals in 37 minutes but struggled from three-point range (1-10 3FG). Vazquez had 11 points in the first half (4-10 FG). Smith tallied 11 points and eight of 17 rebounds in the second period.
 
Sophomore guard KIANA BRIGGS (Paterson, NJ/Passaic County Tech) matched her career high with six assists and netted 12 points on 6-of-12 shooting. Junior guard JADE MEDLEY (Queens, NJ/Hudson Catholic) collected 10 points.
 
"BRIA SMITH had an amazing game as she dominated the boards and made her presence known. JADE MEDLEYbrought energy from the start and had some amazing defensive plays and big shots and KIANA BRIGGS showed up and commanded control of the basketball," Mulliganadded, praising several top performers.

READ MORE: http://njcugothicknights.com/news/2013/11/16/11-15-13_WBASKETBALL_at_Salem_State.aspx