Box Score
WATCH POST GAME INTERVIEW

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
 
NEWARK, NJ– Graduate student Shakia Robinson had her second straight double-double, scoring 21 points and grabbing 13 rebounds, leading the NJIT women's basketball team to a 58-52 victory over Wagner Monday night at the Estelle and Zoom Fleisher Athletic Center.
 
The win enabled the Highlanders to improve to 4-12 overall, while the Seahawks dropped to 1-10.
 
The Highlanders made some clutch plays and played solid defense down the stretch to secure the win. Freshman guard Alana Dudley nailed a jumper with 3:08 remaining that gave the Highlanders the lead for good at 51-50. Junior guard Alyssa Albanese then followed with a clutch 3-pointer with 1:31 left that pushed the lead to 54-50 and the Highlanders held on from there.
 
"I think we played with too much pressure in the first half, too tentative," NJIT head coach Steve Lanpher said. "They sped us up a little and made us rush things. But our defense kept us in it and we executed better in the second half.  The last six minutes of the game, we executed on both ends. When you have a record like ours, you have to learn how to win the close ones."
 
Robinson had 12 of NJIT's total points at halftime, as the Highlanders trailed, 22-18, slicing an 11-point deficit to just four at the break.
 
The Highlanders then took a 40-34 lead with 11:24 remaining by scoring nine straight points. Junior forward Martina Matejcikova keyed the run, first by nailing a 3-pointer that gave the Highlanders their first lead since the opening minutes of the game at 36-34, then added a jumper that pushed the lead to 38-34. Alana Dudley added two free throws to cap the run.
 
But the Seahawks were undaunted and scored the game's next 10 points to take a 44-40 lead. Ugo Nwaigwe scored six straight points, all on inside baskets, to give Wagner the four-point lead with 7:34 left.
 
The Highlanders then kept the game close before Dudley's big shot and Albanese's clutch trey that produced the win.
 
"Alyssa controlled the tempo on both ends," Lanpher said. "She was tremendous. Alana is starting to give us valuable contributions for us. No question, we're always talking about having to play good defense to win games. That was the case tonight."
 
Robinson was the lone Highlander to reach double figures. Albanese had nine points, Matejcikova had eight and senior forward Uju Nwankwo added seven. Nwankwo also grabbed 11 rebounds. The Highlanders held a commanding 45-33 advantage over the Seahawks in rebounds.

Robinson, who had a season-high 25 points and 15 rebounds in the Highlanders' loss to VCU Saturday night, played three seasons at the University of Massachusetts, but did not play college basketball last season.
 
"I think the rust is finally coming off Shakia," Lanpher said. "It took her this long to get it going. But she's been huge for us and with Uju, she's become more of a vocal leader."
 
Wagner was led by Lyndsay Rowe, who had 11 points, but failed to score in the second half. Jazmine Hamlet added 10 points for the Seahawks.
 
The Highlanders return to action Thursday night, when they play host to Clemson at the Fleisher Athletic Center, with tipoff slated for 7 p.m.
 
"I think it's a great opportunity to have an ACC team come to NJIT," Lanpher said. "It's a great honor to bring a team of that caliber into our gym."
 
Courtesy James Hague