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The NJIT women's basketball team will host Division III Centenary (NJ) Thursday at 7pm in the Fleisher Athletic Center in the teams' 2012 home opener.

The Highlanders are 2-4 in home openers in the Division I era, which began in 2006-07.  NJIT defeated Wagner 68-56 (2009-10) and Brown 70-56 (2011-12).

Centenary will be the first Division III opponent the Highlanders will face since the D1 era.  The Cyclones hold an 8-6 overall record against NJIT.  The last time both teams met was in 1996-97 (the final year the Highlanders competed at the Division III level), with Centenary sweeping the season series (January 13 – 75-56) and (February 3 – 82-51).

NJIT (1-1) opened the 2012-13 season at Seton Hall on November 9, as the Pirates squeezed by with a 69-66 victory led by senior Rayven Johnson's double-double, 19 points and 11 rebounds.  The Highlanders bounced back on Monday with its first road victory of the season defeating Rider, 53-51.

The Highlanders led by as many as 16 in the second half, 41-25, with 12:30 left to go in the contest but it was the Broncs who rallied back and closed the gap to within two, 53-51, with 39 seconds remaining.  Rider's Caitlin Bopp made a three-point play with under a minute remaining to bring the Broncs' to within four and two McKenzie free throws cut the NJIT lead to two, 53-51, with 39.6 seconds left.

Broncs' point guard Sironda Chambers had a chance to tie the game at 53, but her layup with one second left on the clock was blocked by junior forward Uju Nwankwo.

Monday's victory also marked the first career win at NJIT for head coach Steve Lanpher.

Johnson, the current Great West Conference Player of the Week and CollegeSportsMadness Great West Conference Player of the Week leads the Highlanders in her senior season with 18.5ppg and 10rpg.  Johnson has posted double-figure scoring in the opening two contests.

Second on the team in scoring is sophomore Sarah Olson with 14ppg.  Olson is shooting 46 percent from three-point range (5-for-11).  Last season Olson ranked second on the team with 46 three-point baskets made.   

Junior athletic forward Nwankwo has combined for 8ppg, 4.5rpg, three steals and one block in two games.  Last season, Nwankwo had at least one block or steal in 26 out of 30 contests.
 
 
The Centenary Cyclones
The Cyclones are led by a new head coach for the second consecutive year as Rachel Weidensaul assumes the reins for 2012-13. Weidensaul takes over a squad that went 14-12 a year ago while finishing fourth in the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) North standings. 

The 2012-13 team features five women returning from last season and a sixth who has played for the Cyclones prior to last season. Joining the group of returners will be two freshmen, two sophomores, and a junior college transfer to round out the team.

Returning for the Cyclones will be Heather Russell and Kristen Cenicacelaya, with Kellie Rose and Danielle Trucksess also seeing time at forward.
Trucksess leads the pack of returners on the offensive end, averaging 11.9 points per game a year ago. Trucksess served as the deep threat, draining 38 three-pointers, converting at a .330 clip. Trucksess, who is returning from injury, will see time as a forward while also seeing a great deal of time at guard.

Joining Trucksess at guard will be junior Melissa Kukoda who averaged 4.0ppg last year while hitting ten three-pointers. Junior Klarissa Perry returns to the Cyclones after a year away from the court. Perry played in 13 games her freshman year, scoring 20 points and bringing down 12 rebounds in 2010-11.

Fans can follow all the action live on www.njithighlanders.com, which will carry a live video stream and webcast play-by-play and commentary from Michael Ventola, as well as an in-game real-time stat feed. Audio coverage begins at 6:45 p.m. with tip off set for 7 p.m.