JERSEY CITY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New Jersey City University freshman point guard Tu'ziah Hall (Greenville, N.C./Bannecker (NC)), the two-time New Jersey Athletic Conference women's basketball Rookie of the Week, netted 30 points—the most by a Gothic Knight freshman since January 1981—but it wasn't enough for NJCU to rally from another slow start, falling to the College of New Jersey, 82-62, on December 10 at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (Charlie Brown Court).
Hall became the fourth NJCU freshman to score 30 points in a game and was just two points shy of the program's rookie scoring standard of 32 points by Hall-of-Famer Christine Mosca on January 29, 1981. The two previous freshmen to score 30 for NJCU played for then-Jersey City State in the 1970s, and each woman, like Mosca, are enshrined in the NJCU Hall of Fame.
Hall's career-high 30 points came on 10-of-20 shooting and she was 4-of-9 from three-point range and 6-of-8 from the line while forcing a game-high five steals in 33 minutes of action. It's the seventh time this season Hall was the Gothic Knights' leading scorer. The loss is the fifth straight for NJCU (3-7, 0-5 NJAC).
Four Lions scored in double digits as TCNJ (3-5, 2-3 NJAC) snapped its three-game skid. Kate O'Leary (Trumbull, Conn.) led the way with 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting in 28 minutes of play, adding five boards and four assists. Christine Woods (River Edge, NJ) scored 11 points (4-4 FG) and grabbed six rebounds (all defensive) in only 15 minutes of play.
Kim Dana (Freehold, N.J.) and Nikki Schott (Washington, N.J.) also scored 11 points apiece. Schott amassed five blocks and dished out five assists. Charlotte Schum (East Hanover, N.J.)had a near double-double performance with nine points, eight rebounds and five assists.
Hall was the lone Gothic Knight to reach double figures and helped keep NJCU in the game, scoring six in each of the first two quarters, eight in the third period and 10 in the fourth. Junior guard Aaliyah Saud (Willingboro, N.J./Willingboro) scored seven points in 13 minutes of action. Freshman forward Atonie Johnson (Irvington, N.J./Irvington) hauled in seven rebounds and senior swing Jazz Randall (Parsippany, N.J./West Orange) dished out five assists and scored six points.
TCNJ outscored NJCU 22-10 in the first quarter to seize a lead it wouldn't surrender and the Lions shot 50 percent or better in the first three quarters with their best shooting percentage coming in the second period (6-10). In the first half TCNJ shot 60 percent from downtown (6-10) as it built a 41-28 margin at the break.
NJCU limited its turnovers to nine, while forcing 23 turnovers on the defensive side of the ball. However, TCNJ was able to lead for 35:30 in Saturday's win by dominating on the glass. The visitors outrebounded NJCU 52-29 and took advantage at the charity stripe as they made 21-of-31 compared to NJCU's 56.5 percent free throw shooting (13-23). TCNJ received 32 points from its bench.
OF NOTE:
- 59th meeting. TCNJ leads the all-time series, 56-3 (won last 16).
- Prior to Tu'ziah Hall's 30 points, the last time an NJCU freshman had scored at least 29 was Bria Smith scoring 29 against William Paterson on February 8, 2014 and Nicole Fairwith 29 against Trenton State on January 20, 1990.
- NJCU Hall-of-Famer Christine Mosca set the rookie standard with 32 points and 25 rebounds at Pratt Institute on January 29, 1981. Hall-of-Famer Debby Breen scored 30 in 1978-79 and Hall-of-Famer Frances Ryan also scored 30 on March 11, 1971.
- Hall scored the most points in game by an NJCU player since Ebony Cunninghamscored 32 points on February 13, 2010 against Ramapo.
- Hall's previous career-high of 20 points came against Newbury on November 19.
WHAT'S NEXT?:
After a week off, NJCU is back in action on Saturday, December 17 when its host SUNY Old Westbury (4-2, 1-2 Skyline) at 1:00 p.m. in a non-conference game. It will be the first meeting between the programs.
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