Box Score
 

NEWARK, NJ – NJIT erupted for 38 second-half points and pulled away with a 63-50 women's basketball victory over visiting Maine Saturday afternoon at the Estelle and Zoom Fleisher Athletic Center.

The Highlanders (2-2), who led by two at halftime, 25-23, outscored the visitors in the second-half, 38-27, were led by senior Kehinde Oyelola, who poured in 12 of her 19 points in the second half.  Oyelola shot 5-for-9 from the floor and 3-for-5 from long range.  Six of Oyelola's 19 points came at the free throw line.

NJIT's second-leading scorer in the game was freshman Rayven Johnson, who did most of her damage in the second half, collected a career-high 11 points.  Highlanders' Taiwo Oyelola and Ivana Seric each added seven points and four rebounds in the victory.

Guard Kristin Baker led the visiting Black Bears with 13 points while Corinne Wellington chipped in nine points off the bench.

Forward Kehinde Oyelola led NJIT on the boards, pulling down a game-high 10 rebounds while Johnson grabbed a career-high eight rebounds.  Kehinde also made four steals.  The Black Bears were led by Amanda Tewksbury's nine rebounds.

Both teams were even in the opening 20 minutes trading baskets until 6:30 left in the first period when Kehinde Oyelola sank two free throws giving the Highlanders an 18-17 advantage.   NJIT would take a four-point lead at 1:49 on a lay-up by Seric but Black Bears Brittany Williams hit a jumper with 12 seconds left in the period to pull Maine within two, 25-23.

Kehinde's seven points led all scorers at halftime.  Williams was the leader for Maine with five points.

Maine's Samantha Wheeler opened up the second half sinking two free throws, knotting the game at 25-25 at 19:20.  NJIT would stay ahead by as many as six over the next 6:35 and a jumper from the left wing by Johnson pushed the Highlanders lead to six, 36-30, with 13:35 remaining in regulation.

The Black Bears answered with a 7-0 spurt to go up by one, 37-36 but after a timeout by NJIT head coach Margaret McKeon. NJIT went on a 10-2 run with 7:11 remaining to go up by eight, 47-39.

NJIT went up a game-high 13 points when Kehinde Oyelola sank a three-pointer from the top of the key for a 55-42 lead with four minutes remaining in the contest.

Maine's Baker hit back-to-back three pointers pulling the Black Bears to within seven points, 55-48, at 2:36, but NJIT secured the victory on a 8-2 run in the final minutes.

The Highlanders will return to action on Tuesday at 7pm when they travel to Washington, DC and face American.