Women's Basketball Gameday Information vs. Vermont
After an eight-day break for exams, NJIT returns to action on Sunday, December 20 at 2pm, hosting first-time opponent Vermont in the Fleisher Athletic Center.
Video and audio coverage begins 15 minutes prior to tip-off at 1:45 p.m. on NJITHighlanders.com with
Michael Ventola calling the action.
ALL-TIME SERIESSunday's matchup will be the first-ever meeting between Vermont and NJIT. The Highlanders are 5-9 all-time against America East foes and 0-1 this season after a 54-50 season opener loss at Binghamton on November 16.
SCOUTING THE HIGHLANDERSNJIT (3-6) is 2-2 at home with both victories coming in the month of November against St. Joseph's Brooklyn and College of St. Joseph (VT).
Through nine games, top scorer
Leah Horton has recorded seven double-figure scoring contests with a high of 18 at LIU Brooklyn in the Highlanders' first road win of the season. Horton, the Highlanders 6-foor-1 center, has scored in double-digits in the last four games.
Redshirt freshman
Kelly Guarino is the Highlander leader with 28 3-point field goals made. The 28 three-point field goals made and three-point field goals per game (3.14), ranks Guarino tied for 21st in the nation while ranking 23
rd in three-point field goal percentage (48.1). Guarino ranks first in all three categories in the Atlantic Sun Conference.
Additionally, Guarino has scored at least one three-pointer in 8 of the Highlanders 9 games this season, with a career-best eight three-pointers made against ACC's Virginia on December 5.
Point guard
Alana Dudley has dished out one assist in each of the Highlanders nine games with a personal-best 8 vs. College of St. Joseph (VT) on November 28.
NJIT LEADERSPoints: Leah Horton (12.1 ppg);
Kelly Guarino (10.3 ppg)
Rebounds: Leah Horton (7.2 rpg)
Field Goal Percentage: Kelly Guarino (.453; 29-for-64)
3-Point FG Made: Kelly Guarino (28-for-56)
Assists: Alana Dudley (39)
Steals: Leah Horton (16)
LAST TIME OUT FOR THE HIGHLANDERSPaced by 22 points from the program's all-time leading career scorer, senior guard Kelsey Minato, Army West Point rolled to its eighth win in nine starts with a 71-35 non-conference women's basketball win over NJIT Friday night in the Estelle and Zoom Fleisher Athletic Center.
Leah Horton was the top scorer and rebounder for the Highlanders (3-6), finishing with 15 points and 7 rebounds. After her,
Camerin Spahn's 6 points were second-highest.
Ruta Vetra was the second-leading rebounder for the home team, pulling down 5 in 20 minutes of play.
NEXT ACTIONNJIT will host North Dakota State on Tuesday, December 22 with tipoff set for 12Noon. Video and audio coverage begins 15 minutes prior to tip-off at 11:45 a.m. on NJITHighlanders.com with
Michael Ventola calling the action.
Tuesday's game will be recognized as
"Staff Appreciation Day". Come join us for FREE Pizza and Drinks in the Fleisher Athletic Center. Raffle opportunities to win Airline Tickets (anywhere in the US) and NJIT Adidas gift bag! Participate in
"Halftime Knockout Game" to win a Pizza Party for your entire Department and 10 free tickets to an NJIT Basketball Game. One representative from each department must sign up in Human Resources to participate or at the Marketing and Promotions table prior to the start of the game.
Free tickets for faculty and staff can be picked up in the Human Resource Office – Fenster 500.
SCOUTING VERMONTVermont returns seven letter winners, including sophomore
Sydney Smith who earned a spot on the America East Conference All-Rookie team a year ago. Smith registered 342 points in 23 games, averaging 13.1 points per game. Her 64 3-pointers were ranked third among the America East leaders and are sixth most in a single season at Vermont.
Smith tops Vermont in scoring (12.4 ppg), rebounds (7.2 rpg) and three-pointers made (25), which ranks the sophomore ranked tied for 39
th in the nation.
The Catamounts were selected to finish eighth in the American East Preseason Coaches' Poll, after a 5-24 overall mark and 2-14 in America East play last season.
LAST TIME OUT FOR THE CATAMOUNTSVermont collected its second straight win on Wednesday afternoon at Leede Arena as it downed Dartmouth 56-54. Courtney Wright's bucket with nine seconds left in the fourth quarter gave the Catamounts' their first road win.
Junior Kylie Butler registered double-figures scoring for the first time this season with 12 points and six rebounds off the bench. Andreana Thomas led UVM with a season-high 16 points and posted a team-best eight rebounds. A total of 10 Catamounts scored points as the team shot 37-percent from the field overall in Vermont's third win.
VERMONT LEADERSPoints: Sydney Smith (12.4 ppg), Andreana Thomas (11.3 ppg)
Rebounds: Sydney Smith (7.2 rpg)
Field Goal Percentage: Courtney Wright (.571; 20-for-35)
3-Point FG Made: Sydney Smith (25)
Assists: Andreana Thomas (32)
Steals: Hayley Robertson (14)
