Ewing, NJ… The College of New Jersey women’s basketball team hosted the Gothic Knights of New Jersey City University in the NJAC opener for both teams on Saturday afternoon in Packer Hall. TCNJ tallied the 57-50 win to improves to 4-2 overall and 1-0 in the NJAC, while NJCU drops to 2-3 overall and 0-1 in the league.

TCNJ’s sophomore center Hillary Klimowicz (Scotch Plains, NJ/Scotch Plains-Fanwood) paced TCNJ with a career-high 14 points and a double-double with 10 rebounds as the Lions survived a late game threat from NJCU.

Junior forward Sara Best (High Bridge, NJ/Voorhees) connected on seven points and eight rebounds in the first half as TCNJ took a 28-13 lead at the break. The Lions jumped out to a 9-0 lead before NJCU first scored at the 12:55 mark. Best was held scoreless in the second half and finished with nine rebounds for the Lions.

In the second half, senior guard Latrese McNair (Elizabeth, NJ/Elizabeth) ignited the NJCU team and after trailing by as many as 17 points, NJCU pulled within three points down the stretch.

NJCU fought back to pull within seven points, 41-34 with 7:59 left to play as McNair had back to back steals and lay-ups. McNair added a three-pointer at 7:15 as the Gothic Knights cut the lead even more, 43-37 with 7:10 left to play.

McNair would make a pair of trips to the free throw line over the next minute and would hit three of four free throws, pulling her team within three points, 43-40 at 6:35.

TCNJ increased the lead to 52-40 on a three-point basket by senior forward Megan Hueter (Haddon Heights, NJ/Haddon Heights) at 3:40.

McNair finished with a game-high 17 points, while junior forward Tiffany Boyd (Jersey City, NJ/Lincoln) and junior forward Arnese Goodman (Jersey City, NJ/Lincoln) picked up 13 points and 12 points respectively for NJCU.