JERSEY CITY, N.J. — After defeating New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) rival Montclair State University on the road Tuesday night, Nov. 21, the New Jersey City University women's basketball team picked up its first home win of the season against the #RV SUNY New Paltz Hawks on Saturday, Nov. 25. NJCU trailed early on, but picked up the energy on both sides of the ball and won its second straight, winning 75-71.

New Paltz (3-1) dominated the boards in the first quarter, grabbing 14 rebounds, seven of which came on the offensive end. The Hawks also held Jersey City (2-1) to just 2-of-15 shooting and took a 16-8 lead. The NJCU offense exploded in the second, with freshman guard Na'tori Postell (Passaic, N.J., Passaic Arts & Science Charter) converting a fast-break layup after stealing the ball from the Hawks. Two offensive possessions later, Postell hit a three-pointer off a pass from senior point guard Damaris Rodriguez (Secaucus, N.J., Secaucus), cutting the New Paltz lead to five. NJCU forced nine turnovers in the quarter and, with 1:39 to go, junior guard Alaisha Mumford (Jersey City, N.J., Lincoln) picked up one of her four steals and got the ball to Postell who gave Jersey City its first lead of the game with a jumper in the paint. At the half, NJCU led 30-28.

Rodriguez came alive on the offensive end in the third quarter, scoring 10 of the 20 Gothic Knight points. NJCU was able to get into the paint and get to the line, shooting and making all eight attempts. Trailing by one with less than a minute to go, Mumford recorded back-to-back steals, but the Gothic Knights could not convert on the offensive end. Headed to the fourth quarter, Jersey City trailed 52-50.

Defense turned into offense for NJCU to start the final period, as Rodriguez forced a New Paltz turnover then converted a layup. The Green and Gold guarded the three point line much better in the fourth, allowing just one make on eight tries. Senior forward Dayjah Anderson (East Orange, NJ, Newark Tech) hit several mid-range jumpers to battle with the Hawks fourth quarter offense, scoring six of her 12 in crunch time. With 0:48 remaining, Mumford grabbed the board off a New Paltz miss and advanced the ball to Rodriguez who layed it in and gave NJCU a six-point lead.

After a Hawks timeout, they hit a three-pointer to keep the game within one possession. NJCU turned the ball over on the ensuing possession, but New Paltz could not convert the layup in the paint, leading to a foul drawn by sophomore guard Tahirah Kelley (Linden, N.J., Immaculate Conception), who had an excellent defensive game and secured several defensive rebounds in the quarter. Kelley gave NJCU a two-possession lead and the Gothic Knights would hold on to win 75-71.

Up Next:
NJCU heads back on the road to play #RV Amherst College, which will be the fifth meeting all-time. That game is set to tip-off at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 27, in Amherst, Mass.