Jersey City, NJ – Stockton University (4-9, 1-6 NJAC) led for most of the game but had its quest for a fourth straight win denied on a last-second free throw that resulted in a 68-67 defeat at New Jersey City (3-9, 1-6). The Ospreys were in front for over 27 of the game's 40 minutes but faltered late.
Lajerah Wright (Atlantic City/Atlantic City) went 7-9 from the floor and scored a career-high 16 points to lead Stockton.
Natalie Miller (New Milford/New Milford) shot 4-5 from three-point range and finished with 14 points followed by
Emily Donzanti (Toms River/TR South) with 10 points and a game-high six assists.
Stockton led 60-52 after a layup by Wright with 5:20 remaining but NJCU went on a 13-2 run to pull ahead 65-62 with 1:14 to go. The Ospreys tied it 65-65 on a Wright free throw with 30 seconds left that followed a jumper by Donzanti at the 1:06 mark.
After the Gothic Knights went back on top 67-65 on two free throws by Christine Bizub with seven seconds to play, Stockton tied the game 67-67 on a jumper by
Kirsten Flournoy (Sewell/Timber Creek) with five ticks on the clock. NJCU's Marajiah Bacon then drew a foul in the last second and made the second of two free throws to deal Stockton the 68-67 setback.
Stockton led 16-15 after a first quarter in which the margin was never greater than five. The second period was equally tight, with three ties before the Ospreys forged a 32-29 lead at the break. Miller went 3-3 from beyond the arc for a team-high nine first-half points.
Stockton created some separation in the third quarter as Miller and Flournoy scored five points apiece to spark the Ospreys to their biggest lead at 48-37 midway through the period. The Gothic Knights answered with a 10-2 run that trimmed the Stockton advantage to three, 50-47, entering the fourth stanza.
The Ospreys led by eight with 5:20 to go but were outscored 16-7 the rest of the way and Bacon's free throw proved to be the difference. Bacon finished with 30 points, nine steals, eight rebounds and five assists for NJCU.
Stockton will be on the road again on Monday for a non-conference game at Stevenson University at 7 pm.
