JERSEY CITY, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | New Jersey City University fell behind big in the first half but rallied in the second to pull within one point with 10 minutes remaining before Kean University overcame both a resilient Gothic Knights squad and a huge double-double effort from sophomore power forward Bria Smith(Bayonne, NJ/St. Dominic Academy), in a 79-71 result in the New Jersey Athletic Conference opener for both teams on November 22.
Smith, the 2014 NJAC Rookie of the Year, posted her fifth career 20-point scoring performance while matching her career-high with 29 points on 10-of-20 shooting—burying the first two three pointers she attempted this season—and 7-of-8 free throw accuracy while seizing 13 rebounds (11 defensive) in 36 minutes. She produced her 12th career double-double and second in a row.
But NJCU (3-1, 0-1 NJAC), which was making its home debut on 'Coach Charlie Brown Court', suffered its first loss of the season despite battling a Kean squad (3-1, 1-0 NJAC) which was picked to finish third in the preseason NJAC poll.
Freshman guard Irelynn Donovan (Coatesville, PA/Coatesville), who had tallied just 15 points in her first three collegiate games, netted 14 points (4-10 FG, 5-8 FT) in 34 minutes off the bench.
READ MORE: http://www.njcugothicknights.com/news/2014/11/22/11-22-14_WBASKETBALL_NJCU_vs_Kean.aspx