JERSEY CITY, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Junior point guard ASHLEY VAZQUEZ (Jersey City, NJ/Marist) scored 16 of her career-high 23 points in the second half as the New Jersey City University women's basketball team swept a season series from Rowan University for the first time in 25 years, downing the Profs, 61-57, in New Jersey Athletic Conference action on January 25 at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (Coach Charlie Brown Court).
NJCU (6-12, 3-8 NJAC) equaled last season's win total and remained alive for the final NJAC Tournament berth by defeating Rowan (4-14, 3-8 NJAC) twice in the same season for the first time since 1988-89. NJCU was tied twice but never trailed in the contest.
Game Program/Notes: Gothic Knight Insights feature, ZIYADAH WILLIAMS
Postgame Interviews:
Vazquez, who notched her third career 20-point scoring effort—one point better than her sophomore-year best of 22—knocked down 4-of-5 three-pointers, 5-of-6 free throws and 7-of-13 total shots in generating 23 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals in 37 minutes. Meanwhile, with the game on the line in the final minute, Vazquezwas there to help NJCU seal it.
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Team Stat Comparison |
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|
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NJCU |
ROWAN |
|
Score |
61 |
57 |
|
Half Time Score |
31 |
26 |
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Field Goal Percentage |
.359 (23-64) |
.444 (20-45) |
|
Three-Point Percentage |
.375 (6-16) |
.273 (3-11) |
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Free Throw Percentage |
.643 (9-14) |
.500 (14-28) |
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Rebounds (O-D-T) |
13-28-41 |
5-30-35 |
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Assists |
10 |
13 |
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Turnovers |
13 |
18 |
|
Blocks |
1 |
6 |
|
Steals |
11 |
9 |
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Fouls |
25 |
19 |
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Largest Lead |
11 |
None |
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Points in the Paint |
30 |
30 |
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Points off Turnovers |
18 |
11 |
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Second Change Points |
7 |
5 |
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Fast Break Points |
6 |
6 |
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Bench Points |
10 |
11 |
After Rowan tied the game at 56-56 on a three by sophomore guard Kaitlin Schullstrom (Colts Neck, NJ/Colts Neck)with 1:31 to play, the game remained tied in the final 30 seconds. Vazquez lost possession to Rowan junior guard Bria Hill (Atlantic City, NJ/Atlantic City) but fought for the loose ball along her offensive baseline, stole it back from Hill and fed a wide-open pass to junior guard JADE MEDLEY (Queens, NJ/Hudson Catholic) on the left side of the rim for an easy go-ahead layup with 16.0 seconds left.
After a timeout, Rowan went to the line with 9.1 seconds left. Schullstrom missed the first (rimmed out), made the second to shave the deficit to one (58-57) and called timeout down one. Rowan was forced to foul junior guard KIANA BRIGGS (Paterson, NJ/Passaic County Tech), NJCU's second best free throw shooter, with 6.2 seconds remaining. NJCU, which was 8-of-10 from the line to that point, saw Briggs miss both and she was called for a foul with 5.0 left. That set up the final dramatic seconds.
Rowan rookie guard Alex Raring (Linwood, NJ/Mainland Regional) stepped to the line with a chance to tie the game and put the visitors in front. But both opportunities rolled off the rim, NJCU got a team rebound, and with 4.7 seconds left, Vazquez knocked down the front end of two free throws for her 23rd point. Her second shot missed, but an alertMedley boxed out under the left side of the rim, grabbed the board on the left block and sealed the victory with under three seconds remaining after finishing an uncontested layup.
Medley only shot 5-of-15 overall (2-7 3FG), but her late-game contributions were pivotal, as she produced her sixth double-digit scoring effort of the season and 15th of her career, finished with 12 points, six rebounds (four offensive) and two steals.
READ MORE: http://njcugothicknights.com/news/2014/1/25/01-25-14_WBASKETBALL_vs_Rowan.aspx