Box Score 

NEWARK, NJ – Sophomore forward Sarah Olson scored 20 points, including making six 3-point baskets, as the NJIT women's team ended its home season on a fine note, defeating Chicago State, 59-33, on Senior Day at the Fleisher Athletic Center.
 
With the win, the Highlanders improved to 13-15 overall and 5-2 in the Great West Conference, with one game remaining next Saturday at Houston Baptist before the GWC Tournament in Chicago.
 
The 13 wins ties the schools highest win total since becoming an NCAA Division I program in 2006.
 
The Highlanders shot 11 of 15 from 3-point range in the win.
 
The Highlanders saluted four seniors who played their final home game at Fleisher. Rayven Johnson, who had 13 points and eight rebounds, will be forever entrenched in the NJIT record books. Kimberly Dweck had only two points, but had eight assists. Melanie Griffin scored eight points, including two clutch 3-pointers. The fourth senior is injured Jelena Zoric.
 
“It was obviously a great senior class,” said NJIT head women's coach Steve Lanpher. “They're all going to be missed. They established a foundation to build on. I'm proud of their effort. They are even better students than they are players. They've been a pleasure to coach.”
 
The Highlanders held the lead for most of the game, trailing only once at 6-5 with 15:48 left in the first half.
 
After the game was last tied at 12-12 with 13:43 remaining in the first half, the Highlanders began their barrage of 3-pointers, with sophomore forward Nicole Maticka drained a trey from the left side, giving the Highlanders the lead for good.
 
Then sophomore Denisa Domiterova added a 3-pointer of her own, pushing the Highlanders to an 18-14 lead with 10:23 left.
 
Griffin got in on the 3-point fun by connecting from long range, giving NJIT a 23-14 advantage.
 
Olson connected on another 3-pointer that gave the Highlanders their first 10-point lead at 28-16 with 4:24 remaining before halftime.
 
Incredibly, not a point was uttered in the final 4:24 by both teams, so NJIT took the 28-16 lead into the locker room.
 
“Defensively, we did a great job on them,” Lanpher said of Chicago State, which defeated the Highlanders in Chicago Jan. 19. “They're a good dribble drive team and we cut that down. We kept them out of the lane and kept them off the glass.”
 
However, the second half was nothing like the first, who had five 3-point field goals. Olson connected on two bombs right out of intermission and she sent the tone for teammates as well. Griffin, Maticka and Johnson all connected from long range and the Highlanders held a commanding 41-18 lead.
 
“Olson was on  fire,” Lanpher said. “We had really good ball movement and had players get in position to make those shots. Sarah is a great 3-point shooter, but our ball movement allowed her to get open shots.”
 
Chicago State did cut the lead to 18 on two possessions, but then the Highlanders connected on two more 3-pointers during that stretch and made the Cougars scramble on every single possession.
 
In all, five different NJIT players hit at least one 3-pointer, with Olson making her sixth bomb midway through the second half.
 
Lanpher likes the way his team is playing right now, winning five of their last six games.
 
“We're playing the best basketball of the season right now,” Lanpher said. “We're doing what we need to do to be successful. We have good depth and everyone is contributing. We just have to take care of business and have some fun.”
 
Layne Murphy had 14 points and 11 rebounds to pace Chicago State (4-23).

Write-up courtesy James Hague