Women's Basketball Aims to Bounce Back On the Road Against New Jersey City

JERSEY CITY, N.J. – After a home loss to The Apprentice School Saturday, the St. Joseph's (Brooklyn) women's basketball team will travel to the Garden State when they take on New Jersey City University out of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) on Monday January 12th. Tip time is at 7:00 p.m.

Game Information

Opponent: New Jersey City University (6-7)

Date/Time: Monday, January 12 • 7:00 p.m.

Location: Jersey City, N.J.
Arena: John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center
Coverage: Live stats | Video

Quick Links

St. Joseph's (Bklyn): Roster | Schedule | Statistics | Misc. Stats
New Jersey City Roster | Schedule | Statistics

Storylines

• St. Joseph's is aiming for their fourth win all time against the Gothic Knights dating back to 2004.
• Destiny Marino currently has a streak of 11 consecutive games scoring in double figures, including three double-doubles. She is averaging 12.5 points per game in the span.
• Senior Samantha Retas moved into sole possession of second place all-time on the Lady Bears' rebounding list (761 career boards) after her 17-rebound performance Saturday against The Apprentice School. She moved two spots, passing both Mary Barry (SJC '02) and Donna Graff (SJC '03).
• New Jersey City is looking to snap a two-game losing streak, losing conference games to Richard Stockton and the College of New Jersey.
• Bria Smith leads the Gothic Knights with both 15.8 points per game (third in the NJAC), along with 11.5 rebounds per contest (tops in the conference). On the season, the junior has eight double-doubles which is tied for 12th in NCAA Division III.

Series History

St. Joseph's has compiled a 3-4 record against New Jersey City dating back to 2004, and are going for their second straight win over the Gothic Knights.

Last Meeting

St. Joseph's never trailed in the contest, using its team speed and hustle with an 84-64 victory over the New Jersey City on January 4, 2011. Junior Ashley McQuillan paced an offense with 20 points and four assists that snapped a five game losing streak, while freshman Kelly McNamee added 15 points.

The Lady Bear Facts

The Lady Bears are paced by senior Samantha Retas, who leads the Lady Bears with an average of 13.6 points per game and is second in the Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (HVIAC) in rebounds per game with 13.0 per contest. She is coming off her seventh double-double of the season, tallying 23 points and 17 rebounds against The Apprentice School.

Freshman Destiny Marino is second on the team in scoring with 11.7 points per game. She is second on the team with 7.6 boards per game and also has a team-high 3.7 assists per game for St. Joseph's. This week's AD3I Player of the Week and the HVIAC Rookie of the Week also is third in the conference, shooting at a 44.0 percent clip.

Senior Taylor Raccuglia averages 9.8 points for the Lady Bears, good for third on the team. She also is second on the team with 3.5 assists (ninth in the HVIAC) and also grabs 6.8 rebounds per contest.

Lady Bears Last Time Out

After battling back within single digits early in the second half, the Lady Bears fell to USCAA foe The Apprentice School, 80-69, at the Hill Center on Saturday night.

Senior Samantha Retas notched her seventh double-double of the season for the Lady Bears (7-6), with game-highs 23 points and 17 rebounds in a losing cause. Freshman Destiny Marino added 12 points, her 11th straight game in double figures, and secured eight rebounds. Senior Taylor Raccuglia netted 11 points, grabbed nine rebounds and dished six assists while Brittany Cervino contributed with 11 points.

Cleaning the Glass

This game has a matchup of two players who excel on the rebounding side. Samantha Retas and Bria Hill both lead their respective teams in rebounds per game, averaging 13.0 and 11.5 boards per game. Both players also top their respective conferences in defensive rebounds per game.

Lady Bears Move Up to No. 7 Ranking in USCAA Top 10

In the third USCAA Coaches Poll released Friday afternoon, the Lady Bears jumped up a spot to No. 7 after two straight weeks at No. 8. 

Knights of the Roundtable

The Gothic Knights are led by sophomore Bria Smith, who tops the team with both 15.8 points per game and 11.5 rebounds per contest. On the season, the sophomore has eight double-doubles which is tied for 12th in all of NCAA Division III. She has scored in double figures 26 times in 38 career games, including 11 times in 13 games this season.

Jade Medley is second on the team in points and is the team's best threat from beyond the arc. The senior guard averages 11.3 points per contest and shoots 36.2% (25 for 69) from three-point range, which is fourth in the NJAC. Kiana Briggs is third on the team with 9.2 points per game and leads the team with 3.2 assists per contest.

New Jersey City Last Time Out

After leading at halftime, the Gothic Knights allowed an 11-2 run to start the second half as they were defeated by NJAC rival The College of New Jersey, 67-58, on January 10 at Packer Hall. Junior Deseree Johnson scored a career-high 18 points, while Bria Smith tallied 16 points and secured nine rebounds in a losing effort.

Next Up for the Lady Bears – Vaughn

The Lady Bears will have nine days off after this game before embarking on a four-game home stand following this game. They will host HVIAC opponent Vaughn as part of a doubleheader with the men's team on Wednesday, January 21st. Tip time is at 6:00 p.m. Live stats and video coverage will be available at SJCBears.com.