Jersey City, NJ... The College of New Jersey women's basketball team remained in the playoff hunt for the upcoming New Jersey Athletic Conference Tournament as the Lions netted a key road win on Saturday. That victory came in a 62-53 triumph at New Jersey City University.
 
The Lions are now 7-8 in New Jersey Athletic Conference play as they moved into a three-way tie for fifth place in the league standings, along with Kean University and Rutgers-Newark. The top six teams in the league qualify for the NJAC Tournament. Overall, TCNJ is 12-10 and has a modest three-game winning streak.
 
The Gothic Knights (8-13, 2-12 NJAC) opened the scoring with the initial basket of the game, but the Lions responded with a 9-0 run. Senior Jessica Goldbach (Edison, NJ/John P. Stevens) tied the game at 2-2 before junior Angelica Esposito (Lincroft, NJ/St. John Vianney) knocked down a 3-pointer to put TCNJ in front.
 
Senior Kelly Coughlin (Trumbull, CT/Trumbull) then had back-to-back buckets extending the lead to 9-2.
 
NJCU countered with an 11-0 run to regain the lead at 13-9.
 
The teams stayed close the rest of the half with the Lions holding a slim 25-24 edge at the break.
 
TCNJ had a quick start to the second half, scoring the first five points of the new frame. Senior Kylie O'Donnell (Magnolia, NJ/Sterling) made the first bucket of the period and Esposito followed with another 3-pointer. That pushed the lead to 30-24.
 
The Lions maintained the lead throughout the period and slowly began to pull away just past the midway point. Coughlin played a big role in adding onto the lead, making 3-pointers on consecutive possessions. Those quick six points gave TCNJ a 55-42 advantage.
 
TCNJ would once again lead by 13 points, before eventually closing out the victory with a 62-53 margin.
 
Coughlin paced the Lions with 16 points, while Esposito chipped in with 11. O'Donnell contributed with nine points and four assists and Goldbach had eight points and eight rebounds.
 
The Lions play their final road game of the season on Wednesday, February 11 when they make the trip to Ramapo College for a 5:30 p.m. tip-off against the Roadrunners.