Box Score

Ewing, NJ … The College of New Jersey women's basketball team won its seventh game of the season, registering a 61-48 victory over Salisbury University in Packer Hall.
 
The Lions (7-4) put forth an exceptional defensive effort holding the Sea Gulls (5-4) scoreless for a span of 11:57 in the game. The host rattled off 20 points during the drought, which proved to be the difference-maker in the contest.
 
Senior Jessica Imhof (Flemington, NJ/Hunterdon Central) led TCNJ with 15 points, while classmate Kelsey Kutch (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) had a standout performance with 12 points and eight rebounds. Sophomore Liz West (Monmouth Beach, NJ/Shore Regional) reached double figures with 10 points and five rebounds.
 
Salisbury, who entered the game averaging 64.8 points per game, was led by sophomore Josie Hildebrand (Woodsboro, MD/Walkersville) with 12 points and eight boards. Freshman Anna Hackett (Germantown, MD/Clarksburg) chipped in with nine points and three steals in the loss.
 
The Lions dominated underneath in the first half, outrebounding the Sea Gulls 22-12. The score was tight midway through the period as TCNJ held just a one-point lead at 17-16. But Salisbury lost their shooting touch and was held scoreless for the final 8:27 of the period.
 
Imhof led the charge on offense, hitting four-of-five shots from the floor. Her three-point field goal followed by a conventional three-point play stretched the Lions' lead to 30-16. Senior Hannah Tait (Staten Island, NY/Notre Dame Academy) then knocked down a shot from long distance with 12 seconds on the clock to give TCNJ a 17-point cushion at the break.
 
Freshman Whitney Kolakowski (Bethesda, MD/Walt Whitman) sank a pair of free throws to break the scoreless streak at the 16:30 mark. That ignited a 14-3 run for the Sea Gulls as their determined play closed the gap to 40-30 with 12:04 left in the game.
 
But the Lions regrouped to regain control of the match. Clutch baskets by Kutch and freshman Kelly Roddy (Belmar, NJ/St. Rose) settled play as the scale tipped back in favor of TCNJ. Roddy finished with nine points, hitting all three shots from the floor and a pair of free throws. Tait had a solid all-around game, finishing with eight points, nine rebounds, and three steals.
 
The Lions return to action on Friday, December 30 when they visit Marymount University at 3 p.m. Their next home game is Saturday, January 7 when they host conference opponent Rutgers-Newark at 1 p.m. in Packer Hall.