Post Game Interview w/ head coach Steve Lanpher & Four Players

NJIT vs. Wagner Highlights (11.12.16)

NEWARK, NJ—Senior guard Alana Dudley scored a game-high 20 points, leading the Highlanders past, visiting Wagner, 68-45, in the season opener for both teams Saturday afternoon at the Fleisher Athletic Center.

With the score tied 29-29 at halftime, the Highlanders pulled away in the second stanza outscoring, the, visiting Seahawks, 39-16, recording the first win of the season.  The last time the Highlanders won the season opener came against Brown, 70-66, in 2011-12.

Dudley, who was four points shy her career-best 24 points at Kennesaw State accomplished a season ago, finished 7-for-16 from the field and 6-of-8 from the free throw line Saturday.  The senior recorded four steals, which matches her personal-best, four rebounds and two assists.

Classmate Leah Horton combined for 13 points and seven rebounds, including a game-best two blocks.

Freshman Danielle Tunstall, who made her college debut, recorded a double-double with 12 points and game-high 14 rebounds, shooting 5-for-10 from the field and 2-of-4 at the free throw line.

Redshirt sophomore Tatianna Torres and sophomore Jordan Ireland each combined for eight points off the bench for the Highlanders.  The eight points for Ireland is a new personal-best, surpassing her old mark of 5 vs. Jacksonville last season. 

Freshman Amber Morgan dished out six assists in her collegiate debut.

Wagner's Kellie Crouch and Africa Williams led the visiting Seahawks with 10 points apiece.  Freshman guard Corrin Baggs paced Wagner with seven rebounds.

NJIT built a seven-point lead, 38-31, in the third quarter, after one-of-two made from the free throw line by Tunstall with less than five minutes on the clock.  Wagner pulled within two, 38-36, after five straight points on a layup by Taylor Butigian and three-pointer by Crouch.

The Highlanders used a 16-0 run to break open the game, sparked by a jumper by Dudley at 2:16 in the third quarter.  NJIT ended the third quarter on a 10-0 run before opening the final stanza with six straight points to complete the 16-0 run for a 56-36 advantage to put the game out of reach.

NJIT took its biggest lead of the game after a pair of free throws made by Dudley with 1:25 left to play as the Highlanders went on to win 68-45. 

The Highlanders outshot Wagner (37.9%-28.6%) while holding a 44-37 edge on the glass.

NJIT will return to action on Tuesday when the Highlanders host non- Division I foe St. Joseph's College—Brooklyn at 7pm.