Box Score 

OREM, UT – Sophomore forward Amber Hegge finished with a game-high 21 points as University of South Dakota defeated NJIT, 57-49, in the opening round of the 2010 Great West Conference Women's Basketball Championships at the UVU Events Center on the campus of Utah Valley University.

Hegge, a first-team all-conference selection was one of two double-figure scorers for the Coyotes, shooting 7-for-8 from the field and 7-of-11 at the free throw line.  Forward Kara Iverson added 10 points and a game-high four assists. 

NJIT lost despite a team-high 20 points from senior Kehinde Oyelola, who scored 18 in the second half in the team's season finale.  Kehinde was 7-of-9 from the field and made three of four three-point baskets.  The Highlanders got nine points and seven rebounds from first-team all-conference honoree Jessica Gerald.  Senior Katie Piekielski tallied six points and six boards for the Highlanders.

Gerald's nine points on Thursday raised her career total to 1,132 and moved her up one spot to fourth on the NJIT all-time career-list with Jackie O'Conner (1997-01; 1,132).

The Highlanders scored the game's first four points before the Coyotes went on a 12-2 run for a 12-6 lead at the 12:56 mark led by Hegge's five points.

NJIT freshman Emily Schartner broke the ice at the 12:27 mark hitting a jumper inside the paint and the Highlanders rallied cutting the deficit to three, 15-12, on a pair of free throws made by Kehinde Oyelola, with less than eight minutes remaining.

South Dakota increased its lead to 11 on a three-pointer made by Annie Roche with 4:22 remaining before the Highlanders used a 9-2 run to close out the half down four, 25-21, at the break.  Freshman Rayven Johnson connected on four free throws in the run while Gerald sank a three-pointer with four seconds left on the clock.

To open the second half, the Coyotes scored the first 11 points (nine points from behind the arc) pushing the lead to 15, 36-21, with 17:26 to go.

Kehinde Oyelola scored the first seven points of the second half for the Highlanders cutting the lead down to 10, 38-28, with 14:28 remaining.  NJIT got the lead down to single-digits at the 10-minute mark on Kehinde's second three-pointer of the game, 42-35.  South Dakota pushed its lead back up to 11 on a jumper by senior Kara Iverson.

The Highlanders slimmed the lead down to seven, the closest they would come to the Coyotes, with 3:07 remaining in the game on a three-point basket by Kehinde Oyelola, 52-45.

NJIT finished with an 11-18 overall record, 6-6 in the conference.  The 11 wins are the most wins for the women's basketball program since playing a Division I schedule, which began in 2006-07.  NJIT had 10 wins in 2007-08 under head coach Margaret McKeon.

Piekielski, Kehinde and Taiwo Oyelola closed out their careers at NJIT.  Kathryn Wighton, the Highlanders fourth senior was unavailable this season due to ongoing rehab of a back injury.   

Piekielski, a hard worker who leads by example, ranks sixth all-time at NJIT with 107 games played.  Her final career totals were: 561 career points, 297 rebounds and 114 assists. 

Taiwo Oyelola, a key veteran for NJIT, ranks first all-time at NJIT in free throw percentage (244-322; .758), fourth in games played (111) and fourth in rebounds (582).  She holds the NJIT Division I single-game record for rebounds in a game (14).  Her final career totals were: 865 points, 582 rebounds and 131 steals.  Taiwo earned Great West Conference honorable mention Wednesday afternoon.

Kehinde Oyeola ends her career fifth all-time at NJIT in games played (110), ninth in rebounds (489).  Her final career totals were: 745 points, 489 rebounds.  Kehinde set an NJIT Division I record with seven 3-point field goals made and matched NJIT's individual single-game record at Utah Valley (2.28.09).

Gerald finished as NJIT's season leading scorer with 446 points (15.4ppg).  The fourth leading scorer on the team was sophomore Melanie Griffin (6.8ppg).  She ranked second on the team in assists (75). Junior Ivana Seric was the team leader in assists (90) and blocks (19).

Freshman guard Johnson averaged (4.4ppg), pulled down 120 rebounds (4.4rpg) and shot 85 percent from the free throw line (46-54).