JERSEY CITY, N.J. – The TCNJ women's basketball team had a return trip to the NJAC final slip through its fingers as New Jersey City rallied late in regulation and in overtime to eke out a 78-74 decision in an instant classic on Wednesday night.

Julia Setaro paced four players in double figures with 20 points for the fourth-seeded Lions, who saw their season come to an end with an overall record of 17-10. Top-seeded NJCU will host third-seeded Rowan – a 68-58 winner at second-seeded Kean – in the NJAC championship game on Saturday night.

Setaro's sharp-shooting had the blue-clad visitors in prime position to end the Gothic Knights' two-year reign as NJAC champions – and avenge last season's tight loss on the same court in the conference final. The senior connected on three consecutive 3-pointers in a span of four possessions, the other a triple by Sydney Blum – to give the Lions a 61-54 lead with 4:15 remaining, but those were the visitors' final points of regulation.

NJCU (15-10) scored the last seven points of the fourth quarter, the final four coming on pinpoint passes from star point guard Damaris Rodriguez. The NJAC player of the year had a shot to win it in regulation, but tough defense by Nina Branchizio forced an off-balanced floater that bounced harmlessly off the back of the rim and off.

TCNJ wasted no time putting the Gothic Knights in a hole in overtime as Blum and Izzy Leazier connected on back-to-back 3-pointers to put the blue-and-gold on top, 67-61. NJCU countered with five straight to get back within one, but Morgan Heller made two clutch free throws to up the lead to 69-66 with 3:09 to play.

The Gothic Knights grabbed the first of five OT lead changes on a put-back by Briana Davis before Setaro's contested lay-in gave it back to the Lions at 71-70. After an NJCU basket, Branchizio dribbled around a screen and buried a jumper from the top of the key plus a foul, sinking the ensuing free throw to swing the pendulum back in TCNJ's favor at 74-72 with 1:11 remaining.

Jada Camacho knocked down a clutch 3-pointer on the other end to give NJCU the lead for good, and Kaitlyn Deiter was tied up on a post move to give the ball back to the Gothic Knights. Needing to foul four times to get NJCU into the bonus, TCNJ finally managed to put the hosts on the line with 14.9 seconds left, but Rodriguez sank both to make it 77-74.

Setaro got a great look on the other end, but her right-wing 3-pointer rimmed out. NJCU scored the last seven points of regulation and the last six in overtime.
Rodriguez poured in 33 points and dished out 10 assists, but TCNJ made her earn every bit of it as Division III's leading scorer needed 38 shots. Camacho finished with 15 points and eight rebounds, Jalynn Clark had 13 points and nine boards, and Sarah Edmond racked up 14 caroms as NJCU controlled a 59-37 advantage on the glass. The Gothic Knights piled up 27 offensive rebounds, which led to 18 second-chance points.

NJCU scored 46 points in the paint to just 16 for TCNJ, which countered with 13 treys while holding the hosts to 6-for-31 (19.4 percent) from beyond the arc. Setaro and Blum each made five 3-pointers and Branchizio connected on a pair. Setaro, who will return for a fifth year, was 7-for-17 from the floor and 5-of-11 from long range.

Blum ended her TCNJ career with a strong performance, registering 17 points, five rebounds, and a block. Branchizio collected 14 points and handed out four assists while playing all 45 minutes.

Leazier continued her versatile play-making ways with 10 points, six rebounds, and five assists for the Lions, and Deiter wound up just shy of a double-double with nine points and eight boards.

Heller had four points, three rebounds, and three assists in her TCNJ finale.