Montclair, NJ – Freshman guard Najeemah Holmes scored 19 points with classmate Damaris Rodriguez adding 12, seven rebounds, and eight assists as third-seeded New Jersey City captured its first New Jersey Athletic Conference championship with a 64-60 victory over No. 1 seed Montclair State on Saturday afternoon.

Ayanna Lewis and Dayjah Anderson added 13 and 10 points, respectively, as the Gothic Knights (9-2) made history, capturing their first conference title and completed a remarkable turnaround from three years ago when it finished 0-21. NJCU also picked up its first win against the Red Hawks since 2002 and won at the Panzer Athletic Center for the first time.

Sophomore guard NICKIE CARTER posted a game-high 24 points along with six steals for MSU, which finished the season at 8-2. Senior guard TAYLOR BROWN added 17 points.

Montclair State scored the first point of the game as KENDALL HODGES made the second of two free throws five seconds into the contest. NJCU answered with the next seven and led 13-8 after one quarter. Layups from Sarah Edmond and Lewis to open the second pushed the lead to nine points with an Anderson foul shot making the score 22-11 with 5:38 to go before halftime.

The Red Hawks were able to trim that lead back to 24-19 on a Carter make at the foul line, and a three by Hodges pulled MSU within 25-22 with 90 seconds remaining. But Holmes answered with a jumper in the paint in the final minute sending the Gothic Knights into the locker room up 27-22.

NJCU would see their lead fluctuate between five and eight points through the first portion of the third quarter before Montclair got within 35-32 on a layup by KAYLA BUSH with two foul shots from TRISHA PETERSON trimming the deficit to a point with 4:43 left. But what would become a common theme throughout, the Gothic Knights had an answer as Mya Neal scored on a layup, and Holmes added a field goal pushing the lead back to 39-35.

Brown connected from behind the arc, making the score 39-37. However, Lewis countered with a three-point play at the other end, sparking a quarter-ending 11-4 run as NJCU led 50-41 heading into the fourth quarter.

Lewis scored three points all at the line to begin the fourth, staking the Gothic Knights to a 53-41 lead. MSU battled back, climbing within 60-56 on a Brown three with 1:24 remaining, and her free throw 33 seconds later made it a one-possession contest. Lewis came up with a clutch basket with 42 ticks on the clock for a 62-57 lead.

Brown again drilled a three, cutting the deficit to 62-60 3 with 5 seconds left, but as it did throughout the game, NJCU answered as Lewis put in a layup with eight seconds for what turned out to be the final margin.

Briana Davis finished with 11 rebounds for NJCU, which outrebounded MSU 44-30, including 17 on the offensive glass.

Hodges totaled six points and four rebounds for Montclair State, which was seeking its eighth NJAC title and first since 2018 when it captured the last of its six consecutive crowns.