Box Score

Ewing, NJ … The College of New Jersey played a forgettable first half but a memorable second period as they rallied to defeat Stevens Institute of Technology 76-54 in Packer Hall.
 
The Lions (6-4) shrugged off a rough first half and exploded for 53 points in the second half to seize their sixth victory. They shot 60.7 percent from floor and drained nine of 12 shots from behind the arc in the final 20 minutes of play. Equally important, the offense took care of the basketball, turning it over just three times in the period after some shaky play prior to the intermission.
 
Senior Jessica Imhof (Flemington, NJ/Hunterdon Central) ignited the offense with five three-point field goals and 21 second-half points to lead TCNJ. She matched her career-high with 25 points and dropped in eight-of-nine attempts from the free-throw line.
 
Junior Liz West (Monmouth Beach, NJ/Shore Regional) registered a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Senior Kelsey Kutch (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) nearly joined West in that category with a season-best 14 points and nine rebounds. Co-captain Hannah Tait (Staten Island, NY/Notre Dame Academy) also had a strong second half to finish with 13 points.
 
Sophomore Avis Benjamin (Queens, NY/Mary Louis Academy) led the Ducks with 15 points, all coming in the second half. Senior Jillian Barrett (Philadelphia, PA/Central) posted a double-double in the loss, scoring 12 points and grabbing 10 boards.
 
The Lions trailed 28-23 at the half, struggling to find their shooting touch. They connected on just eight of their first 34 shots, but were dominant under the glass, grabbing 26 rebounds, including 13 offensive boards. TCNJ had more than half (12) of its first-half points come off second chances.
 
Kutch played physical underneath  collecting seven boards in just nine minutes of play in the opening period.
 
Stevens played tight defense, forcing 11 turnovers and swiping four steals. Senior Katie Cox (Aston, PA/Sun Valley) and Barrett finished the half with eight points.
 
TCNJ got off to a quick start following the intermission. Imhof hit back-to-back 3s on consecutive possessions to give the Lions a 39-35 lead with 15:09 remaining. It was a lead they would never relinquish. In just over 10 minutes of play in the second half, TCNJ hit eight of 10 shots from the behind the arc to mount a 55-43 lead.

The Lions never gave Stevens a chance to recover as they continued rack up points using the long ball. Tait and freshman Kelly Coughlin (Trumbull, CT/Trumbull) also hit clutch shots from downtown to stretch the lead.
 
Senior Katie Occhipinti (Millington, NJ/The Pingry School) drove the offense with five assists, while Coughlin finished  with six points. Junior Candace Vigo (New Brunswick, NJ/New Brunswick Health and Science Tech.) played under the boards finishing with  six rebounds.
 
The triumph marked the 395^th win in the career of TCNJ head coach Dawn Henderson.
 
The Lions return to action on Saturday, December 17 when they host Salisbury University at 3 p.m. Stevens is idle until Friday, December 30 when they host College of Staten Island in Hoboken, NJ at 7 p.m.