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The NJIT women's basketball team will host neighboring Division III Rutgers-Newark on Sunday at 2pm in the Fleisher Athletic Center.

The Highlanders look to start the season 3-1 for the second time in its Division I era (NJIT went 3-1 last season).  NJIT will also look for its first all-time win against Rutgers-Newark. The Scarlet Raiders hold a 2-0 win/loss record over the Highlanders.

NJIT is coming off a 72-37 home opener victory over Centenary College led by senior Rayven Johnson's double-double 23 points and 11 rebounds.

Johnson, the senior guard, is averaging a double-double 20ppg and 10.3rpg.  She has posted two double-doubles (19pts, 11reb at Seton Hall; 23pts, 11rebs vs. Centenary) while notching double-digit scoring in the first three games.

Sophomore guard Sarah Olson is the Highlanders other double-figure scorer, who is averaging 13.3ppg.  Olson, a three-point threat, is shooting 37 percent from behind the arc (7-for-19).  Olson has reached double-figure scoring in two out of three games with a season-high 20 at Seton Hall on November 9.

Junior forward Uju Nwankwo leads the team with five blocks and is ranked behind Johnson with 4.0rpg.  Nwankwo is averaging 7.0ppg and is shooting 47 percent from the field (9-for-19).

The Highlanders have held their opponents to shooting 29 percent from the field (46-for-174) and 20 percent from three-point range (10-for-51).

Rutgers-Newark Notes ..
Rutgers-Newark, which competes in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC), has been selected the “dark horse” of the conference.  The Scarlet Raiders were picked to finish fifth.

The Scarlet Raiders finished the 2011-12 season with a 20-9 overall record.  The team advanced to the semifinals of the NJAC Tournament (L, 56-49 vs. William Paterson) and then advanced to the championship game of the ECAC Metro Tournament (L, 83-52 vs. Richard Stockton).

Rutgers-Newark, which returns three starters, has lost two to graduation – Kendra Johnson and Lori Nieves.  Johnson, a first-team all-NJAC and all-Met shooting guard led the Raiders in scoring (17.0) and the conference in steals (101). Forward Nieves averaged 7.6 points and 5.0 rebounds.

Rutgers-Newark returns one all-conference player from its 2011-12 ECAC runner-up squad in junior guard ShaQuanna Marshall.  Marshall is working her way back into condition after undergoing ACL surgery following an injury in the Raiders' NJAC semifinal loss to William Paterson.  Marshall averaged 11.1 points and distributed a team-high 78 assists as a sophomore.

Jasmine Daniels started every game last season for the Scarlet Raiders averaged 7.0ppg and 6.7rpg. Jade Howard had a solid freshman season averaging 7.8 points and 6.7 rebounds while collecting 26 blocked shots.  Sharee Gordon led Rutgers-Newark with a team-high 33 blocked shots.

In the season-opener for Rutgers-Newark, the Scarlet Knights scored the first 42 points of the game on its way to a season-opening 73-14 win over Medgar Evers.  Freshman guard Laura Shakiri led the way with 14 points while Howard and Maria Simmons added 11 and 10 points respectively.

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 1:45 p.m. with tip off set for 2 p.m.