Jersey City, N.J. – Stockton University (9-13, 4-11 NJAC) forged a 13-point lead in the second quarter and stayed in front for a 53-44 win at New Jersey City (9-13, 6-9). The victory was Stockton's ninth of the season, surpassing last year's total of eight wins.
Emily Donzanti (Toms River/TR South) continued her run of strong play with a game-high 16 points plus six rebounds, which tied her season high on the glass. Donzanti went 7-9 at the line and hit doube figures for the fourth straight game.
Lajerah Wright (Atlantic City/Atlantic City) chipped in with 12 points, five rebounds, a game-high four assists, two steals and a block. Wright went a perfect 4-4 at the stripe and joined Donzanti in playing all 40 minutes of the game.
Wright scored six points and
Maddie McCracken (Wildwood/Wildwood), who made her first career start, sank a late three-pointer to give the Ospreys a 12-10 edge at the end of the first quarter. Stockton then broke the game open with a 13-1 over the last six minutes of the second period.
Donzanti led the spurt with five points, Wright added four and
Hailee Porricelli (Howell/Freehold Twp.) drained a three-pointer to make it 29-16 before an NJCU basket in the closing seconds left Stockton with a 29-18 lead at the break.
The Ospreys stayed in front throughout the third quarter. The Gothic Knights pulled within five late in the period before another three-pointer by Porricelli gave Stockton a 36-28 lead after three. The Ospreys boosted the advantage back to 11 at 40-29 three minutes into the fourth quarter and then survived a charge by NJCU.
The Gothic Knights reeled off seven straight points to slice the gap to four at 40-37 before Stockton regained control. Two free throws apiece by
Ionyonia Alves (Mays Landing/Oakcrest) and
Kiley Gelston (Washington Twp./Washington Twp.) pushed the lead to 44-37.
The home team made it a four-point game again at the 1:38 mark, but Gelston answered with a jumper and Donzanti went 5-5 at the line in the last 43 seconds to seal the 53-44 triumph for the Ospreys.
Stockton will host Kean University on Wednesday at 6 p.m.
