JERSEY CITY, N.J. — The New Jersey City University women's basketball team returned to its winning ways on Wednesday, Dec. 13, defeating Rowan University at the John J Moore Athletic and Fitness Center, 68-63, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) contest that came down to the final few minutes. Senior guard Damaris Rodriguez (Secaucus, N.J., Secaucus) started the game on the bench for NJCU, but still finished with a game-high 29 points. The Gothic Knights have won four NJAC matchups so far, which is good enough for second place in the standings heading into the New Year.

Rodriguez's nearly notched another double-double in 30 minutes played, falling just shy of double digit rebounds (9). Senior forward Dayjah Anderson (East Orange, NJ, Newark Tech) also grabbed nine rebounds and finished in double figures with 11 points. Junior forward Kenya Wagner (Holmdel, N.J., Holmdel) recorded a career-high 34 minutes and a career-high four blocks on the evening in what was an other impressive defensive display from NJCU (6-4, 4-2 NJAC). NJCU started the game perfect, with Anderson scoring her first two shots of the contest against Rowan (6-5, 3-3 NJAC). The Profs responded with a a 10-4 run to take their first lead. Down by one to begin the second, Rodriguez started the quarter, and began it by nailing her first triple of the evening to take a 13-11 lead. Despite shooting 10-of-31 from the field through 20 minutes of play, NJCU would not forgo the edge, holding the Profs to 1-of-12 shooting in the second quarter and held a 25-18 lead at halftime.

Both teams left their offensive struggles in the locker room coming out of the break. The Green and Gold responded to every punch thrown by the Profs, and even managed to extend the lead to 12 with a few minutes left in the third. Rowan would slowly make its way back into the game, eventually tying the score with 4:53 left to go. The Profs took their first lead since the beginning of the second quarter, and Rodriguez immediately answered with a nice floater in the paint to tie the game in the final quarter of play. Sophomore guard Elyssa Russo (Teaneck, N.J., Teaneck) came into the game with four minutes left after sophomore guard Tahirah Kelley (Linden, N.J., Immaculate Conception) picked up her fifth foul. Russo had only played three minutes so far in the game, but without fear she drilled a three pointer to take the lead back for the Green and Gold, one that they would not lose again. Big time free throw shooting from Rodriguez and Anderson as the clock wound down helped put the Profs away for the fifth win in six meetings against the Brown and Gold.

Highlights:
- Defense continues to be a theme this season. The Green and Gold forced six steals, and have managed to reach that mark or better in every game this season. Five Gothic Knights ended the evening with at least one steal.
- The Gothic Knights outscored the Profs 17-5 in fastbreak points, as well as points in the paint 34-16.
- Freshman guard Na'tori Postell (Passaic, N.J., Passaic Arts & Science Charter) recorded career highs in rebounds (8) and steals (2) and scored eight points in 25 minutes on the floor.

Up Next:
The Gothic Knights will play their final game of 2023 this Sunday, Dec. 17, against Division I Delaware State University, before returning to NJAC play in 2024. They are slated to travel to hit the road for a non-conference matchup against Delaware State at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday.