Post Game Comments w/ head coach Lanpher and Horton

Post Game Comments w/ Asst. Coach Flooks

Game highlights

Senior Day Photo Gallery

NEWARK, NJ—Alana Dudley hit a jumper with 2:34 left to give NJIT the lead for good as the Highlanders came back from a 13-point deficit to top USC Upstate, 70-66, on Senior Day Saturday afternoon in ASUN Conference women's basketball action in the Fleisher Athletic Center.

On Senior Day, the Highlanders secured the #5 seed in the ASUN Conference Tournament, which will begin on Friday, March 4 when NJIT visits #4 seed Kennesaw State.  Kennesaw State took the previous two meetings this season.

The win marked the first in school history over USC Upstate and the Highlanders close out the regular season with an 11-18 overall mark, the second-highest win total in the last three seasons.

With the state-of-the-art Wellness and Events Center set to open for the 2017-18 season, the 13-point come-from-behind-victory closed out the final women's basketball game in the 50-year old facility on a positive note.

USC Upstate held a four-point lead after the first quarter, 16-12, and went into the locker room with a 12-point lead, 41-29.  NJIT poured in 22 points in the third quarter and 19 in the final stanza, while holding the visiting Spartans to just eight points in the fourth, securing the 70-66 win.

Dudley, who was honored in pre-game ceremonies with seniors Ruta Vetra, Maria Ruban, Leah Horton and Camerin Spahn, gave NJIT their first lead of the game at 67-66 when she knocked down a jumper in the paint with 2:34 to play.

In fact, NJIT scored the final seven points of the game, sparked by a layup from freshman Danielle Tunstall at the 3:18 mark and Horton scored the final three points of the game, securing the Highlanders 70-66 victory.

Horton led the Highlanders, netting 18 points and pulling down eight rebounds, including two blocks.  Tunstall was one rebound shy her fifth double-double of the season, scoring 13 points and nine rebounds, in addition to three blocks and two steals.

Redshirt sophomore Tatianna Torres came off the bench to score 13 points, four assists and three steals.  The ASUN leader in the steals category and NJIT single-season leader stands at 66 steals on the season.

USC Upstate's Raven Jefferson scored a game-best 29 points on 10-of-21 shooting from the field, including four three-pointers and adding eight rebounds.

Center Riley Popplewell netted 16 points and grabbed nine rebounds and DeNisha Swain came off the bench for the Spartans, scoring 14 points.

The Highlanders outscored the Spartans, 25-to-1 in bench points, 48-to-24 in points in the paint and held a slight edge on the glass, 34-to-30.

NJIT will prepare the ASUN Conference Tournament over the next five days and open up the first round at #4 Kennesaw State.  Tip is scheduled for 7pm.