JERSEY CITY, N.J. — In a game filled with ups and downs, the New Jersey City University women's basketball team came out on top on Saturday afternoon, Jan. 7, at home at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (JMAC) against New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) foe Rutgers-Newark, 78-62.
The headline for the Gothic Knights (4-8, 4-3 NJAC) was freshman guard Elyssa Russo (Teaneck, N.J./Teaneck). The rookie made her first-career start and did not step foot off the court. She played the full 40 minutes and scored a team-high-tying 15 points to go with a game-best eight assists. Junior guard Jada Camacho (Jersey City, N.J./Dickinson) also chipped in 15 points in just 16 minutes on the floor, while senior guard Jasmine Reese (Jersey City, N.J./Hudson Catholic) scored a season-high 11 points in a season-best 23 minutes on the floor. Ebony Odom Barnes of Rutgers-Newark (3-10, 1-5 NJAC) led all players with 23 points.
Defense was on display in the first half for Jersey City as the Gothic Knights held the Scarlet Raiders to just 13 points and took a 27-point lead after 20 minutes of play. NJCU eventually stretched its lead out to a game-best 33 points with 7:21 to go in the third and looked well on its way to a blowout win.
However, a rough sequence involving a hard intentional foul by Rutgers-Newark with 5:52 left in the quarter resulted in a disqualification for the Scarlet Raiders, a technical foul on coach Pat Devaney, Sr., and disqualifications of all NJCU bench players. The Gothic Knights were then forced to finish the remainder of the contest with just the five dressed players on the court at that time — Russo, Reese, sophomore forwards Liyah Allen (Hillside, N.J./Hillside) and Kyla Craddock (Orange, N.J./Newark Tech) and junior guard Jade-Dee Tolentino (West New York, N.J./Memorial).
The Scarlet Raiders eventually managed to trim the Green and Gold's lead down to 16 on a few occasions, however the massive lead the Gothic Knights had already built up allowed NJCU to hold on and come away with the 78-62 victory. As a team, Jersey City controlled the boards to the tune of a 45-33 advantage over Rutgers-Newark, including a 19-12 edge on the offensive glass.
Highlights:
- Allen chipped in nine points and led all players with a season-high 10 rebounds.
- Tolentino added eight points, six boards, four assists and a pair of steals.
- Senior forward Janari Newsome (Newark, N.J./Technology) and sophomore center Briana Davis (Bronx, N.Y./Lincoln (via County Prep)) eached chipped in seven points on 3-of-4 shooting.
- Craddock led all players with a career-best three blocks to go with a season-high six rebounds.
Up Next:
Jersey City returns to action on Wednesday, Jan. 11, on the road at Rutgers-Camden for a scheduled-3:00 p.m. tipoff. NJCU has won five straight over the Scarlet Raptors, including last season's win by forfeit and 31-point home win.