Box Score
 
NEWARK, NJ-- Sophomore guard Alyssa Albanese scored a career-high 18 points, 14 of which came in the second half, leading the NJIT women's basketball team to a 60-55 victory over Texas-Pan American in a Great West Conference game Saturday afternoon at the Fleisher Athletic Center.
 
The victory snapped a three-game losing streak for the Highlanders (8-11, 1-0 Great West), while the Broncs dropped to 5-12 overall and 0-2 in the GWC.
 
The Highlanders also received 15 points off the bench from sophomore forward Denisa Domiterova. NJIT also had 11 points and a game-high and career-high 15 rebounds from junior forward Uju Nwankwo.  The 15 rebounds ties the NJIT Division I school record with Ivana Seric, who had 15 in a game in 2011.
 
Senior guard Melanie Griffin chipped in with 11 points.
 
Albanese gave the Highlanders the lead for good when she knocked down consecutive foul line jumpers. The first gave the Highlanders a 44-43 lead with 9:31 remaining and the second with 7:26 left pushed the lead to 46-43.
 
Senior forward Rayven Johnson, who was held to just four points on the game, hit two free throws to make it 48-43 with 7:01 left and Albanese capped the decisive 8-0 run with another jumper from just inside the 3-point line with 6:24 left.
 
“Alyssa was unbelievable today,” NJIT head women's head coach Steve Lanpher said.
“She's improving  every game since she was made a starter. She's our floor leader out there. She has a great shot and we've been preaching to her to take that shot. She has to be more of a scoring threat for us. She had a great game and it was great for her to come through today.”
 
The Highlanders, spearheaded by the outside shooting of Domiterova off the bench, took an early 17-9 lead. Domiterova hit two 3-pointers during that span.
 
“We were really struggling offensively and Denisa kept us going with those shots,” Lanpher said. “She's a great shooter. She was so aggressive on the defensive side as well.”
 
Nwankwo also had a conventional 3-point play that gave the Highlanders the eight-point lead with 7:59 left in the first half.
 
But the Broncs came all the way back to tie the game at 19-19 with 4:20 left in the first half. Jasmine Gordon had seven points off the bench during that frame.
 
The Highlanders went on a 7-0 run right before halftime to take a lead into the break.
Domiterova hit another 3-pointer, with Nwankwo and sophomore guard Alyssa Albanese hit outside jumpers during that run.
 
The Highlanders held a 28-24 lead at the half. Domiterova led all scorers with 11 first half points.
 
Texas-Pan American received 20 points from Ce'Monay Newell, who made 6-of-8 from 3-point range. Newell was the lone Bronc to reach double figures.
 
“It was a good win and our first conference win,” Lanpher said. “We have to take it from here, but we're ready to roll. It was good to end the losing streak as well.”
 
The Highlanders return to action Tuesday morning when they have a rare 11:30 a.m. start against Brown in Providence, R.I.

Write-up courtesy James Hague