JERSEY CITY, N.J. – The TCNJ women's basketball team led wire-to-wire and picked up a 61-38 win over New Jersey City University on Wednesday. With the victory the Lions pushed their record to 8-5 and 5-1 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference, while the Gothic Knights fell to 3-8 and 1-5 in the NJAC.

The Lions grabbed control of the game from the tip and outscored the Gothic Knights, 20-7, in the first quarter. TCNJ held an 8-3 lead then went on a 12-4 run to close out the opening period. Morgan Heller set up Jen Byrne who knocked down a three-pointer, then Elle Cimilluca assisted on Rachel Gazzola's trifecta to put TCNJ up 14-3. After NJCU hit a pair of free throws, Heller recorded a pair of buckets from in close. Mollie Brueggemeier's jumper put the Lions ahead by 13.

In the second quarter, the Lions carried over the momentum and outscored NJCU 16-4 to take a 36-11 lead into the half. After Shannon Devitt made a pair of free throws, Gazzola hit another triple to extend the lead to 34-9. She would then hit a bucket on a fast break to put the lead at 25. TCNJ was able to deny the Gothic Knights from getting back into the game in the second half.

Byrne and Gazzola each tallied 13 points to lead the Lions. Byrne also grabbed eight rebounds. Heller scored eight points on 5-of-7 shooting from the floor, and she also totaled eight rebounds. Devitt grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked six shots, while Cimilluca picked up seven assists to go with six points and four rebounds. Jane Beiermeister pulled down eight rebounds on the evening.

TCNJ's defense shut down the NJCU offense, as the Gothic Knights shot just 14-of-76 (18.4%) from the field.

The Lions will return to action at Ramapo College on Jan. 11. Game time is set for 3:00 p.m.