Box Score
WASHINGTON, DC – Junior Michelle Kirk's 24 points led American in its 65-57 women's basketball win over New Jersey Institute of Technology in non-conference play Tuesday evening at Bender Arena.
American (3-2), were back-to-back regular season champions (2007-08; 2008-09) of the Patriot League and a participant in the postseason Women's National Invitation Tournament.
Kirk, who was named to the first-team all-Patriot League, was one of three starters who provided most of the scoring for the Eagles. Following Kirk's 24 points, American got 11 points from Lisa Strack and 10 points from Liz Leer as the trio accounted for 45 of their team's 65 points.
NJIT (2-3) had four players reach double-figures Tuesday night led by senior forward Kehinde Oyelola with 13 points. Junior Ivana Seric posted 12 points followed by Jessica Gerald (11) and freshman Rayven Johnson (10).
Kehinde and twin sister Taiwo Oyelola pulled down five boards apiece for NJIT while Kirk, Leer and Ebony Edwards combined for 21 rebounds to lead the Eagles. Kehinde also collected a game-high four steals tying her career-high (4 vs. Maine (11/21/09); 4 at Wagner (12/27/07).
The Highlanders scored first and led by four 12-8, after Johnson's jumper from the baseline with 10:17 left in the first half.
However, the game had five first-half ties, the last at 18-18 on a three-pointer by American's Nicole Ryan with 3:49 left in the half. The home team then took control, scoring seven points outscoring NJIT, 7-2, to end the first period.
American was on top at halftime, 25-20, paced by Kirk's six points. Kehinde Oyelola led NJIT with eight points and seven from Johnson.
To open up the second half, American scored the first five points pushing the lead to 10, 30-20. NJIT closed to within three points of the Eagles, 40-37, on two free throws sank by freshman point guard Kimberly Dweck, with 9:44 remaining.
American connected on back-to-back baskets taking a seven-point advantage, 44-37, at the 8:09 mark. Gerald responded 12 seconds later hitting a long-range three-pointer, pulling her team within four, 40-44.
After an answer on the opposite end by American, NJIT cut the deficit to three, 47-44, keyed by Seric's two baskets.
NJIT was able to pull within one-point of the Eagles on two occasions in the final 4:19, the last on a pair of free throws by Seric, with 3:31 remaining. But the Eagles had an answer for the Highlanders, as they put the game away with a 7-0 spurt in the 2:15 after Seric had pulled NJIT within one.
NJIT's next action is Friday at 2 pm against University of Rhode Island.
