Dec. 29, 2007

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NJIT rookie forward Maya Al-Shingieti pulled down a career-high 11 rebounds -- two shy of tying NJIT's women's basketball Division I record of 13 rebounds set by Aine O'Dwyer last year -- as the Highlanders came up short 55-48 against Davidson College in the consolation game at the Hilton Philadelphia Hawk Classic Saturday afternoon at Alumni Memorial Field house.

NJIT's Al-Shingieti finished the game with eight points and a game-high 11 rebounds and two blocks.

High scorer for the Highlanders was another freshman Jessica Gerald who notched 11 points shooting 7-for-13 from the free throw line while grabbing six rebounds. 5-foot-4 Adriana Johnson posted 10 points, two-shy of her career-high 12 points against Saint Joseph's (PA) last night.

Two Wildcats shared team-high honors (Danielle Hermerka and Alex Thompson) as they produced 11 points apiece. Junior forward Mercedes Robinson chipped in eight points and eight rebounds.

Sophomore Julia Paquette came off the bench shooting a perfect 3-for-3 from the field and 3-for-4 from the free throw line - for nine points for Davidson.

Gerald's lay-up at 8:44 in the second half gave the Highlanders a 41-40 advantage over the Wildcats. The next possession down for the Highlanders junior guard Jill Dickinson popped a jumper from the left wing giving NJIT a three point lead at the 7:16 mark.

The Wildcats knotted the game at 43 on a steal by Monica Laune who threw a baseball pass down court to Mandy Malersleben.

Both teams traded baskets over the next two minutes until Alex Thompson hit a three pointer from the corner giving the Wildcats a 48-46 advantage. Paquette's free throws secured the game with 1:48 left for Davidson.

Davidson's largest lead of the came in the first half at the 7:54 mark when Robinson finished a lay-up in the paint.

The Highlanders, who were down by 11 in the first half, went on a 13-0 run sparked by Dickinson on a jumper just inside the three-point arc going up 22-18 with 1:32 left.

The Highlanders will return to action on Thursday, January 3 when they host Columbia at the Estelle and Zoom Fleisher Athletic Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 7pm.