Box Score
NEWARK, NJ – Rayven Johnson and Jessica Gerald combined for 58 points as the Highlanders defeated visiting Houston Baptist 82-55 in women's basketball Great West Conference action Saturday at the Fleisher Athletic Center.
NJIT set numerous records Saturday…
Johnson, a sophomore forward, scored a career-high 30 points (24 in the first half on an 8-of-8 shooting from behind the arc). She finished the game 10-for-13 from the field and 9-of-11 from three-point range.
Gerald, a senior guard, scored a season-high 28 points, knocking down seven three-pointers from behind the arc. Gerald finished the game 9-for-17 from the field and 7-for-13 from behind the arc.
Johnson set a new NJIT individual record with three-point field goals made with nine, which Gerald equaled with seven. The old school record was seven held by Kehinde Oyelola vs. Utah Valley on February 28, 2009 and Nevea Van Wright vs. NY Maritime on February 19, 1994, when the Highlanders competed at the Division III level.
The nine three-pointers for Johnson also ties the Division I record for this season with Mariah Johnson (Murray State), Tiffany Aidoo (Tulane), Ce'Monay Newell (Texas-Pan American) and Katie Tull (Charleston Southern).
The 17 team 3-point field goals set a new school record at NJIT breaking the old mark of 14 vs. Longwood on February 14, 2009. The 17 team field goals is tied for second best in NCAA Division I this season (IPFW and Nebraska), with Fresno State holding the record with 18.
Forward Uju Nwankwo chipped in 10 points for the Highlanders as the freshman was a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line. Senior Ivana Seric dished out a game-high six assists and point guard Kimberly Dweck had five assists. Seric was the team-leader on the boards with six and Dweck tied her career-high in assists (vs. Penn and Brown) this season.
Houston Baptist had three double-figure scorers, led by Destini Texada's 16 points. Guards Megan Green and Jasmine Spriggs both chipped in 12 points. Texada pulled down a game-high nine rebounds as the visitors edged the Highlanders on the boards, 39-33.
The Huskies shot under 40 percent from the field in each half and finished at 35 percent overall on 18-for-52 from the floor, including 4-for-15 on three-point tries. NJIT, meanwhile made 53 percent of its first-half shots, connecting on 16-of-30 from the field, including 11-for-18 (61 percent) from three-point range.
The Highlanders jumped out to a 23-10 lead in the opening 11 minutes of the contest -- 12 of the points from Johnson.
Houston Baptist cut the lead down to single digits, nine, on a pair of free throws by Texada, 24-15, at the 7:45 mark.
NJIT closed out the first half on a 24-7 spurt for a 48-22 halftime lead. Johnson scored 12 points in the final 7:45 and Gerald added eight.
NJIT will return to action on January 20 at 7pm (CT) when the Highlanders travel to Big East Conference opponent #14/21 DePaul. The Blue Demons are ranked #14 in the AP Poll and #21 in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll.
The Blue Demons are 16-2 (10-0 at home) on the season and have won 13 of their last 14 games.
