Box Score
HACKENSACK, NJ – Senior captain Jackie McCaffrey's career-high 22 points led four double-figure scorers and the New Jersey Institute of Technology past Fairleigh Dickinson 79-69 in women's basketball action Thursday night at the Rothman Center.
The Highlanders recorded their fourth win of 2008-09 season in impressive fashion, outscoring Fairleigh Dickinson, 43-30, in the second half.
Captain McCaffrey scored a team-high 22 points setting a new career-high and surpassing her old mark of 19 which was accomplished on February 16, 2008 at Savannah State. McCaffrey finished the night 7-for-8 from the field and 5-for-6 from behind the arc.
Sophomore Jessica Gerald netted 21 points hitting 8-for-9 from the charity strip. Senior Jill Dickinson added 13 points – 12 from behind the arc while sophomore forward Ivana Seric was one rebound shy a double-double chipping in 11 points and pulling down nine rebounds. The nine rebounds is a career-high for Seric. Junior Taiwo Oyelola put together a strong performance scoring nine points and pulling down 10 boards as the Highlanders outrebounded the home team, 41-32.
Fairleigh Dickinson was led by guard Mariyah Laury posting a game-high 24 points. Guard Jordan Sykes combined for 17 points – shooting a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line while junior Christy Altamirano added 12 points and seven rebounds. Center Shenika Chang posted a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
NJIT opened up the night on an 18-5 run in the first six minutes, led by Dickinson who posted six points from behind the arc. Fairleigh Dickinson scored the next 11 points, six coming from inside the paint by Chang.
McCaffrey silenced the crowd sinking a trey ball at the 10:44 mark, giving the Highlanders a five-point cushion, 21-16.
The Knights sparked a 7-0 run with 6:01 left in the half. Freshman guard Laury posted five points in the run. In the final 3:13, the Highlanders rallied back and decreased the Knights lead to three closing out the half, 39-36.
Fairleigh Dickinson's Laury led all scorers at halftime with 12 points and Chang added 10. The Highlanders had two players in double-figures – McCaffrey and Gerald both with 11 points.
Trailing 39-36 at halftime, Gerald scored the first points of the second half from the free throw line but Fairleigh Dickinson's Altamirano came down the floor and hit a jumper just outside the paint.
Forward Taiwo Oyelola gave the Highlanders a one-point lead, 42-41, sinking both free throws at the 17:11 mark. The Knights Altamirano and Laury answered by hitting consecutive shots putting the home team up 45-42 but NJIT's Gerald struck on the opposite end finishing an old-fashion three-point play knotting the game at 45.
The Highlanders went on a 9-0 run with less than 12 minutes to go sparked by McCaffrey's rare four-point play as she hit a three-pointer from the left wing right in front of the Highlanders bench taking a six-point lead 53-47.
Fairleigh Dickinson cut the lead down to three, 62-59, with 5:13 left to go on a baseline jumper by Laury but NJIT's Dickinson hit a three-pointer from the top of the key at 4:49 which was followed by a lay-up by Taiwo Oyelola putting the Highlanders up 67-59.
Dickinson's three-pointer with 2:09 was the dagger pushing the Highlander lead to nine, 70-61.
NJIT returns to action on Saturday, when they travel to Chicago, Illinois and face Independent Chicago State. The game will tip-off at 2:00pm (CT). This will mark the third meeting between the two teams. The all-time series is tied at 1-1.
