GLASSBORO, N.J. – The New Jersey City University women's basketball team grinded out for the defensive victory on the road on Wednesday night, Feb. 7, over New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) rival Rowan University, 56-44, sweeping the regular-season series in the process. NJCU used a big third quarter, as well as strong performances from guards senior Damaris Rodriguez (Secaucus, N.J./Secaucus) and sophomore Tahirah Kelley (Linden, N.J./Immaculate Conception), to catapult past the Profs.
 
The Gothic Knights (15-7, 12-4 NJAC) have now won six in a row, including five in conference play, and now sit atop the standings in a three-way tie with Stockton University and The College of New Jersey. NJCU split with the Lions and look to even the season series with the Ospreys on Saturday, Feb. 10, at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (JMAC). Tonight, the Green and Gold continued their momentum with the win over Rowan (11-11, 8-8 NJAC).
 
The first half was one of the lowest scoring of the season for either side as the Profs took a slim, 23-20, lead into the break. Rodriguez scored six of her game-high 21 points in the first half, while rookie guard Na'tori Postell (Passaic, N.J./Passaic Arts & Science Charter) chipped in five. Trailing by five early in the third, NJCU began to chip away before kicking off an offensive run to take control. Behind 29-26 with 7:41 left in the quarter, the Gothic Knights set out on an 11-0 run to go up by eight at 37-29 with 3:44 left – Kelley scored four, while Rodriguez had seven. NJCU then scored the final six of the third to go up by 10 after outscoring Rowan, 22-9, in the quarter.
 
The Green and Gold scored the first four points of the fourth to go up by a game-high 14 points for the first time at 46-32 with 8:21 remaining in regulation. Rowan kept trying to cut into that lead, but every basket was answered with one by NJCU to maintain the advantage before the road team sank a couple foul shots with nine seconds left to ice the 12-point victory.
 
Highlights:
- Rodriguez' performance was her first 20-plus scoring game since Jan. 24 and she'll look to build on it.
- Kelley chipped in 11 points, two steals, two assists and a career-best 10 rebounds.
- Postell contributed seven points and six rebounds, while senior forward Sarah Edmond (Bloomfield, NJ/Bloomfield) once again led all players with a game-best 15 boards to go with four points.
- Senior forward Dayjah Anderson (East Orange, NJ/Newark Tech) came off the bench for 30 minutes, scoring eight points and pulling down six rebounds.
 
Up Next:
As mentioned, NJCU continues to gun for its second consecutive NJAC regular-season championship as the squad hosts the Ospreys on Coach Charlie Brown Court for Senior Day on Saturday.