Freshman guard SABRINA SANCHEZ (Keasbey, NJ/Woodbridge) went 6-for-6 from the free-throw line in the final 45 seconds as Rutgers University-Newark overcame 35 turnovers, and a furious rally by New Jersey City University, to defeat the Gothic Knights, 60-56, in a non-conference women’s basketball game at The Golden Dome.
Newark (12-5) has won four of its last five, while the Gothic Knights, who entered the contest riding a three-game winning streak, fall to 8-8 overall. Newark hit 27-of-30 overall at the line, a .900 percentage.
Junior power forward MEGAN KABBA (Newark, NJ/Arts) led the Knights with 11 points and five rebounds in 39 minutes, but shot just 4-of-18. Senior guard ERIKA CUBILE (Jersey City, NJ/Academy of Saint Aloysius) tallied 10, while junior guard/forward BERNICE AMADEO (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) collected all eight of her points late in the second half as she sparked the NJCU rally. Amadeo was 3-of-4 from the field and 2-for-2 from three-point range.
Sophomore point guard LATRESE McNAIR (Elizabeth, NJ/Elizabeth), who ranks in the Top 5 in Division III in steals, finished with nine points and six steals, but shot 2-of-10. Freshman center TIFFANY BOYD (Jersey City, NJ/Lincoln) had six points and seven rebounds before fouling out.
Newark received game-highs of 16 points (4-11 FG, 4-7 3FG) and four assists from freshman forward TONI ROSELLI (Garfield, NJ/St. Mary’s). Junior center CHRISTYAL ANDERSON (Newark, NJ/University) notched a double-double with 10 points (3-5) and a game-best 12 rebounds (nine defensive). Freshman forward ENI FAGEYINBO (Morris Plains, NJ/Parsippany Hills) added 10 points, while Sanchez chalked up eight points.
Rutgers-Newark never trailed, and opened the game on a 13-0 run in the first 5:32 of action. The Scarlet Raiders led by as many as 15 before heading to the intermission up by 10, 29-19.
NJCU did not convert its first field goal until the 9:30 mark of the period.
However, a furious full court press allowed NJCU to force 18 second-half turnovers, which the Knights used to close within four, at 44-40, after a steal opened Amadeo up for a second consecutive three pointer.
After RN regained a 49-42 edge, Amadeo hit a trouble shot over two defenders for her third consecutive basket. A Cubile trey made it 51-47 with 2:27 on the board. After three free throws by Newark allowed the Raiders to regain a 54-47 lead, Kabba deposited a lay-up and finished the three-point play to make it 54-50 at 1:36. McNair sank two free throws with 47.7 remaining as NJCU trimmed the deficit to only two for the first time in the second period.
Sanchez canned two freebies with 45.3 seconds left before a Cubile jumper from the post with 36 seconds left made the score 56-54. Sanchez hit two more free throws with 14.2 ticks left. Cubile answered with a pair of free throws to shave the gap to two, 58-56. Nevertheless, Sanchez capped the final minute with two more freebies with 11.4 seconds remaining and NJCU could not score again.
NJCU converted 16-of-20 from the line (.800), but were .316 from the field (18-57), after making 6-of-26 in the opening period (.231). RN shot 14-of-34 overall (.412) NJCU swiped 18 steals.
NJCU returns to action on Saturday, January 29 at 6pm when it hosts Lincoln University (PA) at the John J. Moore Athletic and Fitness Center.
—www.njcugothicknights.com—
Newspaper Box Score New Jersey City University vs Rutgers-Newark 01/26/05 5:30 pm at Newark, NJ (The Golden Dome) At Newark, NJ (The Golden Dome) RUTGERS-NEWARK 60, NEW JERSEY CITY UNIVERSITY 56 NEW JERSEY CITY UNIVERSITY (8-8) Megan Kabba 4-18 3-5 11; Erika Cubile 3-9 2-2 10; Latrese McNair 2-10 5-6 9; Bernice Amadeo 3-4 0-0 8; Tiffany Boyd 3-5 0-0 6; Allana Diaz 1-1 2-2 4; Natashia Clackley 1-3 2-3 4; Moncia Lykes 0-2 2-2 2; Taliah Chambers 1-2 0-0 2; Wynter Lightfoot 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 18-57 16-20 56. RUTGERS-NEWARK (12-5) Toni Roselli 4-11 4-4 16; Eni Fageyinbo 2-8 6-8 10; Christyal Anderson 3-5 4-4 10; Sabrina Sanchez 1-1 6-6 8; Stephanie Ross 2-2 2-2 6; Trina Whitehead 1-3 3-4 5; Nerlande Nicolas 1-3 2-2 5; Kristina Petrillo 0-0 0-0 0; Megan Lissenden 0-1 0-0 0; Alexis Conde 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 14-34 27-30 60. New Jersey City University.... 19 37 - 56 Rutgers-Newark................ 29 31 - 60 3-point goals-New Jersey City University 4-13 (Bernice Amadeo 2-2; Erika Cubile 2-7; Taliah Chambers 0-1; Wynter Lightfoot 0-1; Latrese McNair 0-2), Rutgers-Newark 5-10 (Toni Roselli 4-7; Nerlande Nicolas 1-2; Megan Lissenden 0-1). Fouled out--New Jersey City University-Tiffany Boyd, Rutgers-Newark-None. Rebounds-New Jersey City University 30 (Tiffany Boyd 7), Rutgers-Newark 35 (Christyal Anderson 12). Assists-New Jersey City University 13 (Megan Kabba 3), Rutgers-Newark 11 (Toni Roselli 4). Total fouls-New Jersey City University 23, Rutgers-Newark 18. A-90