JERSEY CITY, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Senior shooting guard Hannah Johnson drilled a game-tying three-pointer with 20.3 seconds left in regulation as New Jersey City University rallied to force overtime against Ramapo College for the second time this season. In the extra session Johnson hit five foul shots as NJCU held on to knock off the Roadrunners, 64-63 (1 OT), to end the regular season with its third consecutive New Jersey Athletic Conference win to end the year .500 in the conference.
NJCU improved to 3-0 in overtime this season—all against NJAC competition—and won three consecutive NJAC games for the second time this season. Prior to this year, NJCU had not won three consecutive NJAC games since January 2002—18 years ago—before accomplishing it twice in the same season.
The Gothic Knights finished their historic regular season with a 12-13 overall record and 9-9 in the NJAC—its best record in the league since going 8-5 in 1988-89—the last time it made the league tournament prior to 2019-20. NJCU ends the regular season tied for fifth place with William Paterson, but the Pioneers edged NJCU for the tiebreaker after defeating TCNJ, 56-43, in their finale.
NJCU clinched the No. 6 seed in the NJAC Tournament and will visit No. 3 seeded Kean on Saturday, February 22 at 6 p.m. at Harwood Arena in Union. The two clubs played a pair of close games this season with the Cougars prevailing twice. Ironically, Kean was also NJCU's opponent during its last appearance in 1989.
Junior power forward Ayanna Lewis led four NJCU players in double figures and two who produced double-doubles, finishing with 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting, 10 rebounds (six offensive) before fouling out.
Johnson had 14 points and 11 rebounds for her third double-double of the season with three steals while senior point guard Aaliyah McCrae shot 4-of-8 to score 12 points; she played every second of the 45-minute contest. Junior wing Dayjah Anderson tallied 10 points while freshman small forward Sarah Edmond, the NJAC Rookie of the Week, grabbed 11 rebounds as three Knights had double-digits on the glass.
Senior forward Jenna Harsh (Metuchen, N.J.) led Ramapo with a double-double of 16 points and 13 rebounds while junior center Alie Wickershiem (Maywood, N.J.) shot 5-of-7, scoring 13. Senior guard Samantha Rinaldi (Ridgefield Park, N.J.), had 11 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Ramapo scored the first nine points of the game and led 21-11 after one quarter and both Anderson and Edmonds got in foul trouble picking up three first half fouls.
- Trailing 33-23 at the half, NJCU scored the first seven points of the third quarter and 10 of the first 13, pulling with 36-33 when Lewis drilled a three. Trailing 39-33, Lewis scored the next five points and junior guard Mya Neal hit a jumper with 1:34 to go to give NJCU its first lead of the game, 40-39. The teams were tied 40-40 at the end of three quarters. NJCU outscored Ramapo in the third, 17-7.
- In the fourth quarter, NJCU twice went in front by three on baskets by Lewis, including 49-46 with 4:49 to go. Ramapo rallied with the next six points to claim a 52-49 edge with 2:10 to play. Lewis sank two foul shots to make it a one point game (52-51) with 1:48 to go. NJCU got a defensive stop but missed its next shot. NJCU again couldn't score after Neal picked off a steal.
- With 35.3 left, Harsh hit an off-balance jumper in the lane (54-51) to give the guests control. However, Johnson patiently drilled a three with 20.3 left, despite a hand in her face, to tie the game at 54-54.
- A tie up led to a jump ball with 2.9 seconds to go and Ramapo had possession but Rinaldi missed a jumper off the window at the buzzer and the teams headed to overtime for the second time this year.
- In overtime, Anderson struck first with a jumper with 4:09 remaining. A big moment came when Johnson was fouled shooting a three with 3:05 to go and sank all three to give NJCU a 59-55 edge.
- After Ramapo sank two foul shots, Johnson missed two from the line but RCNJ was called for a travel on its next possession. With 1:58 Lewis knocked down a 17-foot jumper to push the lead to 61-57. Johnson went back to the line with 1:17 to go and drilled both for a 63-57 lead.
- Wickershiem hit a turn-around jumper with 1:02 to go and was fouled, making it a 63-60 game. NJCU missed its next two shots. Ramapo was fouled with 32.9 to go and made one to cut it to two, 63-61. When NJCU missed a layup, Ramapo got it back and stepped out of bounds with 16.8 to go in another great defensive play by McCrae to cut off the baseline.
- Ramapo was forced to foul and sophomore forward Zyearah Taylor-Gaston sank one from the line with 15.6 to play (64-61). Wickershiem finished a layup for Ramapo to make it a one-point game and the outcome was in doubt when NJCU turned it over on the ensuing inbounds. But Ramapo lost possession and had to inbounds with 0.4 seconds to go; its final chance jumper at the buzzer was an airball.
NOTABLES:
- Series: 75th meeting, Ramapo leads 45-30.
- Ayanna Lewis scored in double figures for the eighth time this year and netted 20+ points for a second time. She reached double figures in rebounds for the eighth time.
- Hannah Johnson has scored in double figures in 13 games this season.
- Sarah Edmond reached double figures in rebounding for the ninth time this year.
- Aaliyah McCrae scored in double figures for the third time this year and the second game in a row.
- Dayjah Anderson scored in double figures for the 14th time in 22 games.
- Prior to the game, NJCU honored Johnson and McCrae in Senior Day ceremonies.
- NJCU's 11 wins are the most since going 14-13 while playing as an independent [non-NJAC] in 2004-05. Its 12 wins are the most in a season as a member of the NJAC since going 12-12 in the 1992-93 season.
UP NEXT:
- NJCU plays only its second NJAC Tournament game ever when it visits Kean on February 22 at 6 p.m. Kean rallied to defeat NJCU on November 26 in Jersey City, 61-57, despite the Knights leading up until the final minute. Kean narrowly won the rematch in Union on January 23, 72-70. It will be the 71st meeting; Kean leads all-time 58-12 and has won the last 12 meetings. Kean defeated NJCU, 100-78, on February 23, 1989 in Union in the only other NJAC Tournament game in program history.
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