Post Game Interview w/ Asst. Coach Flooks

ESPN3's David Gass talks with NJIT's Guarino and Lanpher Post Game

NJIT Highlights vs. North Florida 

Replay of NJIT vs. North Florida Game

NEWARK, NJ—NJIT's Tatianna Torres registered a double-double (19 points and 11 rebounds), Kelly Guarino scored 18 points and Dez Allen added 11 points in the Highlanders' 75-65 win over visiting North Florida Monday evening in ASUN Conference action at the Wellness and Events Center.

NJIT, which snaps a six-game skid, picks up its first win in ASUN action this season, moving to 1-4 and 3-17 overall while North Florida drops to 2-3 in the league and 9-11 overall.

Torres, the Highlanders redshirt junior, netted her second double-double of the season, shooting 8-for-13 from the free throw line and 5-of-12 from the field.  She shared game-high honors with North Florida's Tesh Hanson with 11 rebounds, as the Highlanders edged the Ospreys on the boards, 41-to-38.  Her six assists were a team-best.

Guarino, making her fourth start of the season, combined for 18 points on 6-of-9 from the field and 5-of-7 from downtown, which ties her season-best mark.  Allen was one rebound shy a double-double, chipping in 11 points and nine rebounds.

Senior forward Taj Lewis added eight points and five rebounds while Ellyn Stoll notched seven points in 14 minutes of action.

North Florida's redshirt senior Keonna Farmer recorded a game-high 26 points and added nine rebounds while classmate Tesh Hanson came off the bench and combined for a double-double (20 points, 11 rebounds) for the Ospreys.

Guard Maiya Rumph scored six points, grabbed eight rebounds and dished out six assists for the visitors.

NJIT opened up the game on a 4-0 run and did not look back in the first half as the Highlanders held a 15-7 lead.  The Highlanders limited the Ospreys to just two field goals in the opening 10 minutes.

Guarino connected on a pair of three-pointers to open the second quarter, extending the Highlander lead to 11, 21-10, with 8:28 on the clock.  North Florida used a 6-0 spurt to cut the Highlander deficit to five, 25-20, after a bucket by Keonna Farmer. 

NJIT pushed the lead back up to double-digits, 10, 37-27, on a three-pointer by Torres with one minute left to play in the quarter.

In the third quarter, both teams traded baskets with the Highlanders holding an eight-point advantage, 41-33, after a jumper by Torres with 3:27 on the clock.  North Florida slimmed the Highlander lead down to four on two occasions – 43-39 after a layup by Hanson with 2:10 remaining.  NJIT used an 8-2 spurt to close out the quarter ahead, 51-41, capped by a three-pointer by Stoll.

North Florida opened the fourth quarter with four straight points, pulling within six of the Highlanders, 51-45, but a 6-0 swing gave the Highlanders its largest lead of the game, 12, 65-52, and kept its momentum going until the end.

The Ospreys went on a quick 6-0 run of its own, but Guarino answered with a three-pointer for a nine-point lead, 65-56, with 3:37 on the clock.  North Florida pulled within seven of the Highlanders twice down the stretch but NJIT responded with an answer and held on for a 75-65 win.

NJIT will return to action on Saturday at 1pm, hosting Lipscomb in the Wellness and Events Center.  The game is part of a doubleheader with the NJIT men at 4pm, who will host the Bison from Lipscomb.