Just coming off a trip to California to close out 2024, The College of New Jersey’s women’s basketball team opened the new year with a strong defensive showing in a win over Swarthmore. The Lions (9-3. 5-0 NJAC) completed their non-conference schedule with a 4-3 mark and now begin the All-NJAC, all the time part of the schedule. Rowan (7-4, 4-1 NJAC) will visit TCNJ on Wednesday for a 5 p.m. tipoff. Rowan and William Paterson are both one game behind TCNJ in the standings. Just prior to the holiday break the Lions headed to California to face Chapman (4-6) and California Lutheran (6-3) and split, losing to Cal Lutheran. The loss to Cal Lutheran snapped TCNJ’s six-game winning streak. “Our team trip to CA was really great overall,’’ said TCNJ coach Chessie Jackson, who got to make a visit home to Santa Barbara. “We had the chance to play two really good teams while also coming together as a group, sharing a lot of laughs and memories. Many players on our team had never been the west coast, so just the chance to share in new experiences was hugely valuable for our group.’’ A group that was selected first in the conference preseason poll, and despite some graduation and injury losses, the Lions have responded quite well to the challenge. “It was hard to know after losing our two grads in early November how this team was going to bounce back,’’ stated Jackson. “So the fact that we have the record we do and are the only undefeated team in the conference at this point is super impressive to me. We have great leadership and experience in our upper-class group, and so I think that with continued focus, our confidence will only grow from here.’’ Jackson lost grad transfers in Molly Aromando, who played at Trenton Catholic and came from Catholic University, and Jaclyn Feit, who came after four years at Franklin & Marshall, to injury prior to the start of the season. “I think we are still working into our identity a bit,’’ said Jackson. “We know that focusing on rebounding and being able to run on teams will be important parts of our success in the league. The team is focused and working hard, which is all we can ask at this time of the year.’’ The Lions have been succeeding and growing each game. Sophomore Grace Kowalski leads the Lions with 13.6 points points per game along with 31 assists and 29 steals. She is fourth in the NJAC in scoring. Senior Nina Branchizio is the engine that drives the Lions. She is fifth in the conference with 12.9 points per game and leads the NJAC in 3-point percentage and in minutes played. Junior Katie Fricker averages 12.1 points per game and garners a team-best 6.3 rebounds per game. Senior Arianna McCleod scores at a 9.3 scoring clip and grabs 4.5 rebounds. Junior Myah Hourigan-Hutton leads the team in assists with 37. TCNJ brought in four freshmen, and they have contributed to the cause as Cassidy Brown and Amanda Baylock have earned NJAC Rookie of the Week honors. Brooke McFadden has played in all 12 games and Maddie Bernhardt in 11 contests. Both have seen significant minutes. “I’ve been surprised by how impactful our first years have been,’’ said Jackson, on the newcomers. “Coming into the season, we had so much talent in our returning guard group that I wasn’t sure how our first years were going to work into the lineup, but they’ve really risen to our team standards and the fact that two of our four first years have earned rookie of the week honors is pretty remarkable. It’s a great group and I’m eager to see how else they can impact this year.‘’ Sure, the Lions could use some rebounding help and the defense needs to dictate the offense, but one area TCNJ is not lacking is leadership. “Nina (Branchizio) and Arianna (McCleod) as well as our junior class are really leading the charge this year well,’’ praised Jackson. “It’s always great to have a senior leader and captain who is also your main point guard — there is something special about that dynamic. Nina wants to win so badly, and it’s contagious for everyone.’’ TCNJ just might catch a conference title, as well.