Box score
CHICAGO, IL – NJIT's Jessica Gerald scored a game-high 34 points, but it wasn't enough for the Highlanders, as Chicago State had all five starters reach double-figures en route to a 71-60 women's basketball victory over visiting New Jersey Institute of Technology Saturday afternoon at the Jones Convocation Center.
Gerald, who played all but two minutes, shot 12-for-27 from the field, including 4-for-8 from behind the arc, plus 6-for-8 at the foul line. She was the team-leader on the boards with seven.
Gerald's 34 points was the team's highest total for the season and also one of the highest in the program's 22 seasons.
The previous 2008-09 scoring high for NJIT was 26 points, also accomplished by Gerald in a 68-60 victory over Maine on November 29, 2008.
Her 34 points Saturday in Chicago was also the most for a Highlander woman since January 11, 2008, when Gerald exploded for a school-record 37 points against California State University, Bakersfield.
Looking at the NJIT record book, Sharon Kukal scored 35 against Queens (NY) on January 28, 1998 in NJIT's first season of Division II competion. Two other players previously reached 34 points. SchrKya Massey scored 34 against Nyack on January 23, 2002 and Nevea Van Wright did the same against Mt. St. Vincent on December 10, 1993, when NJIT was in Division III.
Chicago State's top scorer on Saturday was sophomore Courtney Waldon, with 22 points, shooting 7-for-11 from the field and 3-for-4 from long range. Senior guard Jasmin Dixon posted 13 points, while sharing game-high honors with teammate Jael Pena dishing out five assists. Natalie Marlowe, who made her second start of the season, chipped in 12 points and pulled down seven rebounds. Center Elana Wroten recorded her first double-double of season 11 points, 12 rebounds.
Down 29-28 at half time, the Highlanders found themselves trailing by 10 quickly in the first four minutes of the second half, 41-31.
Both teams traded baskets over the next three minutes but the Cougars increased its lead to 13 on a three-pointer by Pena. NJIT responded scoring the next three baskets, the first coming on a lay-up by Gerald. Freshman Melanie Griffin hit a jumper just inside the three-point arc and finished a fast break lay-up with Gerald as she split defenders and brought the visitors to within seven, 51-44, at the 12:04 mark.
NJIT went on a 10-1 run beginning with a lay-up by senior co-captain Jackie McCaffrey at 10:11. Gerald's three-pointer from the top of the key at 8:57 made the score 54-50 in favor of Chicago State. NJIT did not let down, as they connected on the next basket down the floor using post player Kehinde Oyelola. She hit a short jumper from the foul line, closing the gap to within two, 54-52. A steal by Griffin, the game became knotted at 54 as Tawio scored on her defender with an up and under move.
After the eight minute media timeout, the Cougars sparked an 11-0 spurt just under the 6:30 mark led by Marlowe with four points giving the home team a 65-54 lead. NJIT would cut the lead to eight on a three-pointer by Gerald at the 2:20 mark, but Chicago State would close out the game from the free throw line the rest of the way.
Chicago State opened up the game with a 7-0 run in the first two minutes. NJIT's Gerald scored the first six points for the Highlanders. McCaffrey brought the Highlanders within one of the home team 10-9 with a three-pointer from the left side of the court. A fast break lay-up by Taiwo Oyelola knotted the game at 11 with 12:35 left to go in the first half.
NJIT went ahead 13-11 on a nice pass from Griffin who was at mid-court to a running Ivana Seric down the right sideline.
The game became tied twice over the next four minutes; the last coming at 16-16 on a pair of free throws sank by Cougars Marlowe.
Chicago State scored the next 10 points led by Waldon with four putting Chicago State ahead 26-16 with less than five minutes.
Gerald and the Highlanders would rally in the final three minutes of the first half. Gerald finished a three-point play and sank three-pointer, cutting the deficit to three. With less than 1:30 left, NJIT scored the final two baskets of the half pulling within one, 29-28.
Next up for the Highlanders is Boston College on Wednesday, January 21 at 7pm. This will be the first meeting between the two teams.
