JERSEY CITY, N.J. - Nina Branchizio added her name to the record books as the 18th player in program history to score 1,000 career points in TCNJ women's basketball's game against New Jersey City Saturday afternoon. Unfortunately for the Lions there was little else to celebrate in the team's second straight loss, a 60-46 decision against the Gothic Knights.
 
Branchizio led TCNJ in scoring with 11 points and was joined in double figures by Arianna McCleod (10). McCleod paced the Lions in rebounding with seven while Branchizio held a share of the team lead for assists (2) with Katie Fricker.
 
With the score 6-4 in favor of NJCU (5-10, 4-5 NJAC) early, it was Branchizio going to her right and draining a long-range triple – the 237th of her decorated career – to eclipse the 1,000-point mark and put TCNJ (11-5, 7-2 NJAC) in front 7-6. In what was a low-scoring first half from there, the sides traded threes in the final 1:30 to give the Lions a narrow 10-9 lead after one.
 
The Gothic Knights used a 9-0 run just under halfway into the second to build themselves a six-point advantage, but a Fricker three started a 7-2 response that trimmed the lead to one at 20-19 at halftime.
 
A quick start to a high-scoring third quarter saw Myah Hourigan-Hutton and McCleod combined as part of a 7-2 run to give the Lions their largest lead of the day at 26-22, but a coast-to-coast layup from NJCU's Destiny Battle gave the Gothic Knights a 28-26 lead they would hold the rest of the way. A Brooke McFadden 3-pointer at the buzzer made it a four-point game entering the fourth, but TCNJ would get outscored 18-8 in the final frame en route to the 60-46 loss.
 
FOR THE FOES

• Battle led all scorers with 18 points and was joined in double figures by Kendra Rigo and Na'tori Postell. The senior stuffed the stat sheet in the upset victory, adding seven rebounds, four assists and six steals.
• Rigo also posted a double double, pairing a game-high 12 rebounds with her 15 points.
• Autumn John also dominated the glass, corralling 10 rebounds including seven on the offensive end.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• TCNJ shot just 30.6% from the field and 26.9% from 3-point land while NJCU shot 38.7% from the field and 27.3% from deep.
• The Lions were outrebounded 41-32 including a 16-8 disadvantage on the offensive glass. As a result the Gothic Knights held a 17-10 advantage in second chance points.
• Points in the paint were a major difference in Saturday's game, with NJCU outscoring TCNJ 38-10.
• The Lions were held to a season-low seven assists in the loss.

UP NEXT

• The Lions return to Packer Hall for a rematch against William Paterson Wednesday, Jan. 22. Tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m.