Box Score 

JERSEY CITY, NJ–  NJIT's Jessica Gerald scored a game-high 16 points, 11 coming in the second half as Hofstra defeated the Highlanders 60-43 in the opening round of the Saint Peter's Holiday Classic at the Yanitelli Center Monday afternoon.

Host Saint Peter's faced William & Mary at 7:30 pm this evening.

This was the first-ever meeting between the two teams as Hofstra's junior Jess Fuller led three double-figure scorers with 14 points shooting 7-for-11 from the field.  Freshman guard Nicole Capurso posted 13 points coming off the bench for the Pride while forward Joelle Connelly added 11 and pulled down a game-high nine rebounds.

Contributing to the Highlanders offense was junior Katie Piekielski as she sank 10 points hitting 6-for-8 from the charity strip.  Piekielski also grabbed a team-high six rebounds.  Sophomore forward Ivana Seric scored four points and two different Highlanders added three points apiece.

The Highlanders opened up the contest on a lay-up by Taiwo Oyelola and took a 5-2 advantage after Gerald sank all three of her free throws after being fouled on a three-point attempt.

The Pride scored the next 15 points taking a 15-5 lead on two free throws sank by Connelly at the 10:35 mark.

Gerald's jumper broke the ice at 10:02 but Hofstra answered back with the next six points taking a 14-point lead, 21-7, on a lay-up by Fuller with 8:46 left to play in the first half.

Hofstra's Fuller was the halftime leader with eight points followed by teammate Connelly with six points and five rebounds.  NJIT's scoring leader was Gerald with five.

The Pride would take its biggest lead of the game 48-18, with 14:25 left to go in the game on a lay-up by Capruso.
 

The Highlanders will face William and Mary Tuesday afternoon at 5:00pm and Saint Peter's will take on Hofstra in the night cap at 7:30pm.