EWING, N.J. - The TCNJ women's basketball team celebrated its seniors in thrilling fashion in the Lions' matchup against New Jersey City Saturday afternoon, turning a four-point deficit late in the fourth quarter into a 56-55 victory over the Gothic Knights. Jaclyn Feit played the part of the hero in the comeback win, scoring seven straight points and registering three blocks in the final 3:38 to steal the victory and keep the Lions in the hunt for the top seed in the NJAC Tournament.
 
After trailing 6-3 early in Saturday's contest, TCNJ (19-5. 15-2) used a Kowalski jumper to spark a quarter-closing 15-4 run to take an 18-10 lead into the opening break. Nina Branchizio poured in seven of her team-high 10 points in the burst, hitting a triple and going 4-5 from the charity stripe to help build the lead.
 
Despite the hot end to the first frame, the Lions went ice cold in the second, shooting 2-16 and being held without a bucket through the first 6:40 of the frame. NJCU (9-15, 8-9 NJAC) struggled as well, but found their way to the free throw line early and often, eventually taking a one-point lead to take a one-point lead before the TCNJscored the final four points of the quarter to give itself a 28-25 advantage.
 
The third quarter saw five lead changes, with the Gothic Knights building their lead to as much as six with 3:29 to go.
 
Enter Brooke McFadden.
 
The freshman was held scoreless with just one rebound in the first half, but came alive in the third quarter to put the Lions right back in the game. Checking with TCNJ down six and momentum with NJCU, McFadden poured in seven of her nine points and grabbed two critical offensive rebounds in the final 3:30, helping the Lions enter the fourth quarter down just two at 42-40.
 
A spinning layup from Maya Hourigan-Hutton knotted things at 42 to start the fourth quarter before the Gothic Knights went on a 9-2 run over the ensuing four minutes to take a 51-44 lead – their largest of the afternoon.
 
Enter Feit.
 
Subbed in near the end of NJCU's run, the graduate student began her takeover with the first of her three blocks in the quarter with 3:52 to go and the Lions down four. Following the rejection, Feit ran the length of the floor, caught the ball in the post and earned an old-fashioned three-point play to cut the deficit to just one. After a traveling call gave the ball back to TCNJ, they looked to the 6-3 Feit once again, who used her size advantage to hit another layup and give the Lions the 54-53 lead – their first of the quarter.
 
The lead stayed at one following a 2-2 trip to the line for Feit, who then showed off her defensive prowess by stuffing the Gothic Knights on back-to-back possessions, with an NJCU heave at the buzzer coming up short to clinch the 56-55 win.
 
FOR THE FOES

• Destiny Battle led all scorers with 17, going 7-8 from the free throw line.
• Autumn John also got into double figures with 10 points to pair with her six rebounds
• Kendra Rigo narrowly missed out on a double-double, tallying eight points and nine rebounds.

STANDOUT LIONS

• Feit led the Lions with 10 points, seven of which came in the final 3:38. The graduate student added game-high marks in rebounds (9) and blocks (3).
• Branchizio was the Lions' lone other double figure scorer, adding 10 points on just 2-5 shooting.
• Arianna McCleod corralled a season-high nine rebounds to share the team-lead with Feit.
• McFadden scored nine points and grabbed four rebounds in just 11 minutes.
• Maya Hourigan-Hutton and Amanda Baylock shared the team-lead in assists with three apiece off the bench.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• TCNJ earned the win despite shooting season-worst marks both from the field (26.6%) and 3-point land (21.4%). NJCU shot a narrowly-better 32.1% overall and 10% from deep.
• The Lions held slight advantages in points off turnovers (12-8), second-chance points (10-6) and points in the paint (20-16).
• TCNJ's bench outscored the Gothic Knights' 15-5.

NOTES

• Branchizio moves into 14th place on the Lions' all-time scoring list, now sitting at 1,106 for her career. The senior is also just two triples away from breaking the program record for 3-point field goals.
• TCNJ's 15 NJAC wins are tied for the program's most in a single season this century.

UP NEXT

• The Lions travel to Montclair State Wednesday, Feb. 19 to take on the Red Hawks in a game that will decide the top seed in the upcoming NJAC Tournament. Tip is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.