New Jersey City University led from start to finish, and had four players reach double figures in scoring, as the Gothic Knights cruised past Lynchburg College, 71-59, in the opening round of the season-opening Gothic Knight Tip-Off Tournament, hosted by NJCU at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center.
NJCU (1-0) advances to Sunday’s 3 p.m. championship game against Brockport State (1-0), which defeated Baruch College, 51-40, in Saturday’s other first round action. Lynchburg (0-1) will play Baruch in the 1 p.m. consolation game.
The Gothic Knights, which led by as many as 16 points, received 16 points, along with seven rebounds, five blocks and three assists on 7-of-10 shooting from junior forward TIFFANY BOYD (Jersey City, NJ/Lincoln). Senior point guard LATRESE McNAIR (Elizabeth, NJ/Elizabeth), who has led Division III in steals in two consecutive seasons, finished with 15 points (7-of-17), six steals and four assists.
Sophomore center KELLY WILSON (Jersey City, NJ/Hudson County Prep) notched her first career double-double with a career-high 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting, and grabbed 14 rebounds—two shy of her career best, while adding four steals and three blocks. She now has five double-digit rebounding games in her career; it was her second career double-digit scoring performance.
Junior forward ARNESE GOODMAN (Jersey City, NJ/Lincoln) chipped in 10 points and six rebounds before fouling out, and freshman point guard JERICA HAYES (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) opened her collegiate career with an eight-point, four-assist debut.
The Hornets received a game-high 18 points from senior center Caroline Wesley (Baltimore, MD/Notre Dame), who finished with a double-double after hauling in 14 rebounds (eight offensive). She shot 6-of-12 from the field and 6-of-8 from the line.
Freshman guard Kristina Darby (Tampa, FL/Holy Names) had 17 points (7-of-21) and three steals, but shot 2-of-12 from three-point range. Freshman forward Brittany Dahn (Glen Allen, VA/Deep Run) added 10 points and five boards.
The Knights opened up an 18-9 edge, before heading to the half up 35-27. In the first half, Lynchburg drew within 18-14, but NJCU extended its margin to 24-16 at 7:43 when McNair picked off a pass and went the distance for a fast-break basket. An offensive rebound and putback by Boyd made it 26-17, while another steal and fast-break bucket by McNair gave NJCU a 32-23 cushion.
NJCU’s second half lead dwindled to two points on three occasions, including a 52-50 score with 8:14 remaining. However, NJCU put the game away with a 19-5 run over a span of 7:23 that made it 71-55 as the Knights owned a 12-2 margin in fast-break scoring during the contest. A fast-break bucket by McNair followed moments later by an offensive rebound and putback by Boyd on the ensuing free-throw try made it 56-50. A three by Goodman made it 59-52, before Boyd swiped a pass and raced downcourt for a fast-break basket and a 61-52 edge.
After Lynchburg made it 61-54, NJCU scored 11 of the next 12 points. Boyd hit a jumper at 3:37 that extended the margin to double figures for the first time, and her aggressive style resulted in an offensive board and putback for a 67-55 cushion at 2:34. McNair converted a fast-break play for a 69-55 lead, and added another transition basket with 51 seconds left as NJCU opened its largest lead, 71-55.
NJCU shot 45.3 percent overall (29-64), while limiting Lynchburg to 31.9 percent shooting including just 28.1 percent (9-32) in the opening period. The Hornets out-rebounded NJCU 48-39, including 24-13 on the offensive glass, but shot just 10 percent from three-point range (2-20).
—www.njcugothicknights.com—
Team Stat Comparison
NJCU LYNCHBURG
Score 71 59
Half-Time Score 35 27
Field Goal Percentage 29-64 (.453) 22-69 (.319)
Three-Point Percentage 5-14 (.357) 2-20 (.100)
Free Throw Percentage 8-14 (.571) 13-19 (.684)
Rebounds (O-D-T) 13-26-39 24-24-48
Assists 11 19
Turnovers 24 21
Blocks 3 9
Steals 9 12
Fouls 15 17
Largest Lead 16 0
Points in the Paint 38 28
Points off Turnovers 17 14
Second Change Points 15 16
Fast Break Points 12 2
Bench Points 13 5
Newspaper Box Score Lynchburg College vs New Jersey City University 11/18/06 6 p.m. at Jersey City, NJ (John J. Moore AFC) At Jersey City, NJ (John J. Moore AFC) NEW JERSEY CITY UNIVERSITY 71, LYNCHBURG COLLEGE 59 LYNCHBURG COLLEGE (0-1) WESLEY, Caroline 6-12 6-8 18; DARBY, Kristina 7-21 1-1 17; DAHN, Brittany 3-8 4-5 10; ESPOSITO, Dana 3-10 1-2 7; TERRY, Amy 1-5 0-0 2; LEAKE, Rachel 1-2 0-0 2; BOOKER, Chevonne 1-7 0-1 2; MILLER, Danielle 0-2 1-2 1; BRIDGE, Jessie 0-0 0-0 0; SNEAD, Tamara 0-0 0-0 0; LAY, Katie 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 22-69 13-19 59. NEW JERSEY CITY UNIVERSITY (1-0) Tiffany Boyd 7-10 2-3 16; Latrese McNair 7-17 0-1 15; Kelly Wilson 6-9 1-2 13; Arnese Goodman 4-14 0-2 10; Jerica Hayes 2-4 2-2 8; Andrea Yudin 2-4 0-0 4; Trisha Sanon 1-2 2-2 4; Michelle Vasquez 0-3 1-2 1; Carolina Garcia 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 29-64 8-14 71. Lynchburg College............. 27 32 - 59 New Jersey City University.... 35 36 - 71 3-point goals--Lynchburg College 2-20 (DARBY, Kristina 2-12; ESPOSITO, Dana 0-3; TERRY, Amy 0-2; LEAKE, Rachel 0-1; BOOKER, Chevonne 0-2), New Jersey City University 5-14 (Jerica Hayes 2-4; Arnese Goodman 2-4; Latrese McNair 1-4; Carolina Garcia 0-1; Tiffany Boyd 0-1). Fouled out--Lynchburg College-None, New Jersey City University-Arnese Goodman. Rebounds--Lynchburg College 48 (WESLEY, Caroline 14), New Jersey City University 39 (Kelly Wilson 14). Assists--Lynchburg College 11 (WESLEY, Caroline 2; DARBY, Kristina 2; ESPOSITO, Dana 2), New Jersey City University 19 (Jerica Hayes 4; Latrese McNair 4). Total fouls--Lynchburg College 15, New Jersey City University 17. Technical fouls--Lynchburg College-None, New Jersey City University-None. A-222 Game 2: 2006-07 Gothic Knight Tip-Off Tournament NJCU advances to Sunday's championship game and will play Brockport at 3 pm Lynchburg will play in Sunday;s 1 pm consolation vs. Baruch.