Box Score

NEWARK, NJ – Junior forward Rayven Johnson had 18 points and tied a career-high with 13 rebounds, but her performance could not prevent NJIT from dropping a 61-54 decision to Utah Valley Saturday afternoon at the Estelle and Zoom Fleisher Athletic Center.
 
The loss was the second straight Great West Conference defeat at home for the Highlanders (8-13, 2-2 Great West), while Utah Valley improved to 10-10 overall and 2-1 in the Great West.
 
The Highlanders took a solid 29-21 lead at halftime, courtesy of a 13-1 run to end the first half over a span of 5:28.
 
Johnson had five points in the run, including a three-pointer, and freshman guard Denisa Domiterova (12 points) nailed two treys, including one with 40 seconds remaining that gave the Highlanders the eight-point bulge at intermission.
 
Domiterova hit a big three-pointer in the second half that pushed the Highlanders' lead to 36-26 with 15:16 left.  But Utah Valley gradually chipped away at NJIT's lead and tied the game at 38-38 on a jumper from Cynde Mason with 10:41 left.
 
After Johnson's jumper enabled the Highlanders to regain the lead at 40-38, the Highlanders' offense went silent for a span of 9:07. Johnson broke the scoreless drought with a layup with 1:19 remaining, but by that point, Utah Valley held a 51-42 lead.
 
Utah Valley took command of the game by scoring 11 straight points during the Highlanders' scoreless streak. Mason hit four free throws during that run.
 
Sammie Jensen had a big game for Utah Valley, scoring a game-high 21 points and grabbing 12 rebounds.  Jensen did most of her damage at the free throw line, where she made 11 of 14 shots.
 
Erica Newbold added 13 points and Whitney Jenkins tallied 11 points for the winners.
 
Other than Johnson, who also had 13 rebounds in a game against Texas-Pan American on February 20, 2010, and Domiterova, the Highlanders received eight points and eight rebounds from sophomore forward Uju Nwankwo.  Nwankwo also posted a game-high three blocks.
 
It was Alumnae Day at NJIT, with Jackie O'Connor, Odelia Pyron, Sharon Kukal, Ivana Seric, Breanna Turnbull and Jessica Gerald returning for the game.
 
The Highlanders will return to action next Saturday, February 4 at 2pm when they face Chicago State in Chicago.