HACKENSACK, NJ – Fairleigh Dickinson's strong first half proved to be the difference for the Knights, who defeated visiting NJIT 59-41 Monday night in women's basketball non-conference action at the Stratis Arena.

The Knights (8-4) seized control late in the first half, shooting 14-for-26 from the field, including 3-for-8 on three-point tries, plus 6-for-8 at the foul line for a 37-21 scoring advantage over the first 20 minutes against the Highlanders.

Guard Mariyah Laury scored a game-high 15 points for the home team on a 6-of-9 shooting night from the field and 2-of-4 from behind the arc.

Jasmyra Saunders scored 10 of her 12 points in the first half as she shot 4-of-7 from the field and dished out a game-high five assists. 

Forward Esther Wallace added nine points and a team-high 10 rebounds.  Wallace combined for a game-high four blocks for the Knights.

NJIT (2-9) got a double-double from senior Ivana Seric who netted a team-high 10 points and game-high 12 rebounds.  The 12 rebounds are a career-high for the 6-foot-2 forward whose recent high was 11 vs. Texas-Pan American on January 14, 2010.

Classmate Jessica Gerald added nine points for the Highlanders while sophomore Rayven Johnson scored seven points and pulled down seven rebounds.

Both teams traded baskets in the opening five minutes, combining for four ties, the final tie which came on a jumper in the paint by FDU's Tara Kelly for a 7-7 game, at the 14:42 mark.  The visitors responded by going up three, 12-9, on Johnson's running layup in the paint, with 13:40 left to play in the half.

The Knights rallied and scored the next 16 points, for a 25-12 lead, just under the 10-minute mark sparked by Wallace's layup at the 13:13 mark.  Wallace had six points in the run as well as Alyssa Mayrose who knocked down back-to-back three-pointers from the top of the key. 

The Highlanders went on a 6-0 run cutting the lead down to seven, 25-18.  Emily Schartner started the run for NJIT knocking down two free throws at the 8:24 mark, followed by a jumper by Johnson and Seric.  Seric's jumper came with 5:14 remaining in the first half.

FDU rallied off the next 12 points pulling in front of the visiting team, 37-18.  Sophomore guard Kimberly Dweck knocked down a three-pointer at the buzzer for NJIT.

Saunders led all scorers at half with 10 points for the Knights as Gerald and Seric were high-scorers for the Highlanders at break.

Seric opened the second-half for Highlanders scoring  an old-fashion three-point play cutting the lead to 13 but the Knights would push its lead to 21 at the eight-minute mark on a three-pointer by Laury keeping the game out of reach from the Highlaners.

The Highlanders will return to action on Thursday at 7pm when the team travels to Brown.