CHICAGO—Redshirt sophomore Tatianna Torres scored a game-high 18 points and head coach Steve Lanpher recorded his 200^th career coaching win in the Highlanders 57-42 victory at Chicago State Friday afternoon at the Jones Convocation Center.

NJIT, which has won the last three in the row and last four-out-of-five contests, moves to .500 on the season (7-7).  Chicago State, still winless on the season, falls to 0-14.

In addition to Torres' game-high 18 points, redshirt sophomore Kelly Guarino netted 12 points – nine from behind the arc, adding four rebounds and four assists. 

Torres, which recorded her third straight double-figure game, combined for seven steals and five assists in the victory.  The seven steals ties the NJIT Division I single-season record.

Freshman forward Danielle Tunstall was one point shy a double-double, finishing with nine points and 10 rebounds.

Senior guard Alana Dudley added six points and six assists for the Highlanders.

Chicago State forward Kaylee Allen, a preseason all-WAC second-team honoree, recorded a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Redshirt junior guard Jessica Cerda led the Cougars with 12 points while grabbing six rebounds.

The Highlanders jumped out to an early 10-point lead, 14-4, after seven consecutive points, resulting in a Chicago State timeout. 

Chicago State's Allen knocked down back-to-back three-pointers, cutting the deficit to four, 10-14. 

NJIT scored consecutive baskets to go up eight, 18-10, and Cougars Cerda scored the final bucket of the first quarter with 14 seconds, as the Highlanders held an 18-12 lead.

The Highlanders scored 11 unanswered to open the second quarter, extending its lead to 17, 29-12, with 5:35 left on the clock. Chicago State's Destiny broke the scoring draught at the 4:47 mark, on a 7-0 run, cutting the Highlander lead to nine, 20-29, with 1:07 on the clock. 

NJIT sophomore Jordan Ireland knocked down a three from the corner to close out the quarter ahead, 32-20.

In the third quarter, the Highlanders held a comfortable lead, 14, 34-20, but the Cougars battled back, capping a 10-3 run to close out of the period, down seven, 32-39.

The Highlanders pushed its lead back to double-figures to start the fourth period on an old fashion three-point play by Torres for a 42-32 advantage.  Chicago State pulled within 10 of the Highlanders on two occasions, the final at 6:34, after a layup by Destiny Harris, 48-38.

NJIT used an 8-0 run to push its lead, 56-38, keeping the game out of reach from the home team and securing its seventh win of the season with a 57-42 victory.

The Highlanders will return to action in the New Year, hosting Columbia on January 4 at 11:30 a.m. (Education Day) at the Fleisher Athletic Center.