Box Score
NEWARK, NJ – Junior Jessica Gerald scored a game-high 20 points in Tuesday afternoon’s 69-53 women’s basketball loss to Harvard at the Estelle and Zoom Fleisher Athletic Center.
The game was played in front of the “Education Day” crowd of 1125, the highest home attendance for a women’s game since November 14, 2008 at “Pack the House” Night (873). NJIT began Division I competitionin 2006-07.
Gerald connected on 6-for-9 from behind the arc, one three-pointer shy the NJIT individual single-game record which is held by teammate Kehinde Oyelola, (7 3-pointers at Utah Valley, 2.28.09).
Harvard, who has won the last six out of seven contests, set a fast pace in the first half against the Highlanders, grabbing a 32-17 halftime lead as they shot 12-for-33 shooting from the field, including 4-for-8 on three-pointers.
The Crimson had three out of five starters reach double-double figures led by Brogan Berry with 15 points and a game-high eight assists. Forward Emma Markley and guard Victoria Lippert each scored 13 points. Markley, who leads the Ivy League in blocks, added a game-high five.
Freshman forward Maria Sanchez, playing in her ninth game posted a career-high 12 points and eight rebounds in 24 minutes of action off the bench for NJIT. Sanchez shot 4-for-6 from the field and a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line.
Harvard jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead hitting two shots from behind the arc at the 18:07 mark. NJIT got on the board on a jumper by sophomore Melanie Griffin at 17:18 and Rayven Johnson cut the deficit to three, 4-7, on a jumper from the baseline.
The Crimson went on a 21-2 run, led by Markley’s six points for a 28-7 lead, with 10:30 remaining in the half. Sanchez scored four points for the Highlanders in the final 5:12, for a 32-17 halftime score.
Harvard took its biggest lead of the second half, 46-23, at the 15:13 mark on a three-pointer by Lippert but the Highlanders answered with a 14-4 spurt sparked by a three-pointer by Gerald at 14:57. Gerald scored nine points in the run, all from behind the arc for a 50-37 score, in favor of the visitors.
The Crimson would push its lead up to 22, 68-46, with 2:22 remaining in the contest. NJIT scored the seven points in the final 1:12 for a 69-53 final score.
NJIT will open up the inaugural season in the Great West Conference at Texas-Pan American on Thursday, January 14 at 5:35pm (CT) and at Houston Baptist on Saturday, January 16 at 5:35pm (CT).