Post Game Interview

Highlights

BROOKLYN, NY—NJIT picked up its first road win of the 2015 season behind three double-figure scorers paced by junior Leah Horton's 18 points, as the visiting Highlanders defeated LIU Brooklyn, 53-44, Wednesday night in women's basketball non-conference action.

With the win, the Highlanders snapped a three-game skid, improving to 3-5 on the season, while LIU Brooklyn dropped its second straight contest, falling to 2-5 on the year.

Horton, the Highlanders center, shot 6-for-10 from the field and 4-of-5 from the free throw line netting 18 points and added nine rebounds.  Junior point guard Alana Dudley scored a season-high 14 points on 3-of-4 shooting from 3-point range while, while dishing out a game-best 6 assists and Camerin Spahn added 12 points for the winners.

Junior guard Brianna Farris led LIU Brooklyn with 13 points, 9 from behind the arc. Senior guard Shanice Vaughan socred 12 points, while senior forward Jolanna Ford pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds, as the Blackbirds held a 40-to-29 advantage on the boards.

The Highlanders took an early 7-3 lead in the opening 3:30, but the home team quickly answered, knotting the game at 7 after a 4-0 run.  NJIT used an 11-1 run to close out the first quarter to build an 18-8 advantage.

In the second quarter, the Highlanders were up 22-12 after a pair of free throws made by Horton at the 5:24 mark.  However, the Blackbirds cut into the lead by knocking down back-to-back 3-pointers, slimming the lead to 22-18.  NJIT's Kelly Guarino, the reigning Atlantic Sun Conference Newcomer of the Week, sank her lone three-pointer of the game with 44 seconds remaining in the half, staking the Highlanders to a 25-18 lead heading into halftime.

At the half, NJIT's Alana Dudley led all scorers with 11 points, while LIU Brooklyn's Vaughan led the home team with 10 points.

The Highlanders scored the first points of the third quarter, on a lay-up by Spahn, but the Blackbirds used a 7-2 spurt to cut their deficit to four, 29-25, after a 3-pointer by Farris.

NJIT held a seven-point advantage with 3:20 left to play in the third quarter, 38-31, after a jumper by Spahn.  LIU Brooklyn went on another 7-2 run and pulled to within two of the Highlanders, 40-38, after ending the quarter on a fast break layup by Vaughan.

The run that closed the third quarter was LIU Brooklyn's last gasp, however, as the Highlander defense held the Blackbirds to just six fourth-quarter points.

Alana Dudley opened the fourth quarter by knocking down her third 3-pointer of the game that gave the Highlanders a 43-39 cushion.  After a bucket LIU's Farris, the Highlanders took off on a 9-2 rally that pused their lead back to double-digits, 52-42. The last score in the spurt was a jumper by Ruta Vetra from the free throw line with 1:38 remaining in the game.

NJIT will play its next three games at home on Fleisher Family Court, first hosting first-time opponent Army West Point on Friday at 7pm. Army is ranked 18th in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major national Top 25 as of December 8.