Trio of Mencia, De La Cruz, and Gordon Powers Lightning Women to Win Over NJCU

Box Score

Jan. 30, 2012

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Amanda De La Cruz notched her second triple double of the season, Leslie Mencia pumped in 26 points and Jaleesa Gordon posted her fourth straight double-double as the Lehman Lightning overcame a too-close-for-comfort first half to defeat visiting New Jersey City University 71-52 on Monday night at Baruch College.

Jersey City, which entered the game with an unsightly 3-16 record, may have surprised those in attendance, including the Lightning, with its level of play in the first half. Down 11 after 10 minutes, the Gothic Knights stunned the Lightning by putting together a 15-3 run over the next seven minutes to grab a 27-26 lead.

The Lightning retook the lead on its next three possessions, using a bucket and free throw by Mencia and a basket by Shalaya Nieves to push ahead 31-27. Maxine Kaminski's jumper just before the end of the half left the Gothic Knights trailing 31-29.

Over the first eight minutes of the second half, Lehman manufactured a 15-3 run of its own, highlighted by six points from De La Cruz and five from Mencia, to take control of the game at 46-32. A three-pointer from Chris Mary Martinez would give the Lightning a 17 point lead with 8:10 remaining.

Lehman's advantage got as large as 18 on two occasions before reaching its apex of 19 on Paula Robinson's final seconds three-pointer.

After a first half that featured 50-percent shooting by Jersey City, the Lightning defense tightened the screws to hold the Gothic Knights to just 15.5 percent shooting in the final 20 minutes.

De La Cruz finished the night with 16 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds, her second triple-double in less than two weeks, as she also compiled one against York back on January 20 with 22 points, 16 assists and 11 rebounds. In addition to her 15 points and 12 rebounds, Gordon swatted six shots, the third game in her last four in which she has had at least six blocks.

Lehman is back in action on Wednesday when the team travels just a short distance down Broadway to face City College of New York.

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