CNBNews

JERSEY CITY, NJ (February 25, 2023)--– Nicole Mallard had 17 points and Dakota Adams scored 15 as third-seeded Rowan won the 2023 NJAC Women’s Basketball Championship, defeating top-seeded New Jersey City, 79-70. It is Rowan’s second title under coach Demetrius Poles, with the last one coming in the 2019-20 season, while it is the eighth all-time for the Profs. 

Adams contributed 15 rebounds and Mallard went 8-for-10 from the foul line. Danielle McCurdy scored 12 points on 5-for-10 shooting with Grace Marshall scoring 11 for the Profs. 

Rowan (20-8) opened the third quarter going on a 13-2 run, which included six points from Marshall, to take a 55-40 lead with 5:35 left in the third quarter, their largest of the game. But three-pointers by NJCU’s Jada Camacho and the NJAC Player of the Year, Damaris Rodriguez, pulled the home team within 59-52 with over three minutes to play in the quarter. 

The Profs remained in control during the fourth quarter, although NJCU (15-8) pulled within 65-59 with 7:48 to play. Rowan responded with an 8-1 run to hold a 73-60 advantage with 3:04 remaining. The Gothic Knights scored six straight to cut the deficit to 75-70 but Mallard and Marshall both went 2-for-2 from the foul line to put away the championship. 

The teams were tied 21-21 after one-quarter of play. In the second quarter, the teams traded leads, but after a 30-30 tie, Rowan made its move, scoring seven straight, with four from Adams, to take a 37-30 lead with 2:45 to play. At halftime, the Profs held a 42-38 advantage. 

The Profs will await their next opponent and destination when the NCAA Tournament bracket is announced on Monday, February 27 during the Selection Show at 3 p.m. on NCAA.com. ​

Rowan earns a sweep of the conference's basketball championships as the Profs' men's team won the title on Friday evening. For 2022-23, Rowan has captured a total of eight NJAC championships.