Jan. 17, 2006

Box Score

Newark, NJ - New Jersey Institute of Technology held visiting Felician without a point for nearly 10 minutes in the second half and the end result was a 51-33 win for the Highlanders in Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference women's basketball Tuesday night.

NJIT (9-4 overall and 7-3 in the CACC) is a strong defensive team that had its best defensive game of the season on Tuesday. Felician is 5-9 overall and 4-7 in the CACC.

The Highlanders had allowed only four previous opponents to cross the 60-point barrier and they had held four foes under 47 points, but Felician's 33 points represent the fewest scored against NJIT this season.

Indeed it was the fewest points allowed by an NJIT team since a 92-12 win over Yeshiva on February 24, 1996, when the Highlanders competed at the NCAA Division III level. NJIT had allowed 35 points earlier this season against Nyack and also held Dominican to 35 points in a game last season.

The key in keeping Felician to such a low score was a scoreless defensive streak of nine minutes and 40 seconds.

NJIT led for the entire game, but Felician had closed to within four points, 33-29, when Saule Vadopalaite hit a three-point basket for the Golden Falcons with 11:59 left

However, the visitors would not score again until Laurin Brown made two free throws at the 2:19 mark and by then the Highlanders had stretched their lead to 46-29.

NJIT held Felician to 27 percent shooting from the field for the game, including 22 percent (5-23) in the second half. In addition, the Highlanders forced 31 turnovers and avoided fouls, sending Felician to the line for just six free throws (made four).

The Highlanders had three double-figure scorers, paced by junior Aine O'Dwyer's game-high 14 points. Kelly Crowe added 11 points and Selena Kershaw scored 10 points and led all rebounders, with 8.

Felician sophomore forward Danielle Norman avoided some of the troubles that plagued the rest of her team, making six of her eight shots. She finished as Felician's only double-figure scorer (12 points), while leading the team with 7 rebounds and making a game-best 7 steals.

NJIT, which has won its last three and four of the last five, will visit Post University in Waterbury, Connecticut for another CACC contest on Thursday at 6 pm.