New Jersey City Women’s Basketball Snaps Losing Streak in Record Fashion

Shege Haxhaj, No. 2 (Photo via NJCU Athletics)

The New Jersey City women’s basketball team headed into their game against Vaughn College (2-7) on Tuesday just looking to get back in the win column. They entered the night on a six-game losing streak and wanted to win their final game before the holiday break.

Little did they know, the game would become historic for the New Jersey Athletic Conference program.

Seven different players would score in double figures as the Gothic Knights (4-8) went on to a 123-44 win. The 123 points broke a 31-year-old single-game scoring record for NJCU. The programs previous record of 105 was set on February 13, 1986 against Rutgers-Camden.

Freshman point guard Tu’ziah Hall led the team with 20 points and 10 assists (a career high), while also grabbing eight rebounds and five steals. It was the fourth games this season Hall has scored 20 or more points. Her 10 assists were the most by an NJCU player since 2008.

Junior center Shege Haxhaj scored a career high 18 on 8-of-9 shooting and junior guard Aaliyah Saud registered 19 points to go along with seven assists and three steals, in only 17 minutes. Freshman guards Tiana Hill and Iyannah Moore contributed 16 and 14 points respectively. Seniors Kiana Briggs and Jazz Randall also scored in double figures.

10 of the 11 NJCU players scored, while all 11 had at least one rebound and an assist. Nine of the 11 contributed at least one steal in the game.

It was just the fourth time in program history the Gothic Knights have scored 100 points in a game. The 123 points are the third most scored in any basketball game, men’s or women’s, in school history, and the most ever in a home game.

The Gothic Knights also set single-game records for assists (35), made field goals (48), and field goal attempts (102).

Additionally, their 68 rebounds were the second most ever in a game.

NJCU led 27-5 at the end of the first quarter, 60-18 at halftime, and 94-25 after three periods. The Gothic Knights won the rebounding margin 68-39. They outscored Vaughn 70-20 in the paint, 24-2 on the fast break, and its bench outscored the opposing bench 58-3.

“Making history is always a good thing,” said Hall. “I’m glad we were able to accomplish that.”

“From last year, winning one game, to making history this year, I think that’s great,” added Haxhaj.

NJCU will be idle for 15 days over the holiday break until returning to the court on Wednesday, January 4 at 6 p.m. when it meets Montclair State University in a New Jersey Athletic Conference matchup in Montclair, N.J.