Highlights at Colgate
HAMILTON, NY—NJIT graduate student
Kelly Guarino netted a career-best 28 points and seven three-pointers, leading four double figure scorers in the Highlanders' second-straight road victory, 71-53, at Colgate in women's basketball non-conference action at Cottrell Court Friday evening.
NJIT (3-8) picked up its second straight road victory, pouring in 30 points in the first quarter and a holding a 20-point cushion heading into the half, 41-21.
Guarino set a new career high with 28 points, finishing 7-for-12 from three-point range and 10-for-17 from the field. The seven three-pointers match Guarino's career-best mark (7 at Virginia; December 5, 2015).
With 36 three-pointers on the season, Guarino moves into the top spot in the ASUN Conference and ranks second in three-point percentage (45.6). The 5-foot-7 guard has connected on 216 three-pointers for her career, which is the top mark in the NJIT Division I era and six shy the NJIT all-time record.
In addition to Guarino's 28 points, transfer
Milena Bajic scored 13 points and grabbed five rebounds while junior forward
Danielle Tunstall registered her third double-double of the season, netting 11 points and 10 rebounds, including three steals and three assists.
Sophomore guard
Ellyn Stoll filled up the box score, adding 10 points, five rebounds, four assists, two blocks and one steal in the Highlanders win.
NJIT held a slight advantage on the boards, 43-39, paced by Tunstall with 10, and scored 12 second-chance points to just two points by Colgate.
Colgate (4-5) was paced by Summer King and Haley Greer, who posted 11 points each while Mylah Chandler added nine points and seven rebounds.
NJIT jumped out to a quick start on the road, up 11-3, thanks to a trio of three-pointers.
Guarino connected on a pair of trey balls over the next two minutes, giving the Highlanders a huge, 21-6, advantage. NJIT closed out the quarter on a 9-4 spurt, taking a 19-point lead, 30-11. Guarino finished the first 10 minutes of action with 14 points on 4-of-6 from three-point range while sophomore guard Stoll added nine points.
Guarino continued her hot streak into the second quarter, knocking down her fifth three-pointer of the contest, extending the Highlander lead to 22, 33-11. NJIT kept the momentum going and increased the Highlander lead to a 20-point advantage, heading into the half, 41-21.
Guarino led all scorers at the half with 17 points on 5-of-8 from three-point range.
Colgate used a 6-2 run to open the third quarter, cutting the Highlander deficit to 15, 42-27. The visitors went on a 12-5 run, sparked by a jumper inside the paint by
Tatianna Torres at the 6:33 mark, taking its biggest lead of the game, 23, 56-33, with 2:09 to go in the third quarter and never looked back.
The Highlanders finished 46.3 percent from the field (24-for-54) and 56.3 percent from three-point range (9-for-16).
NJIT will break for finals and return to action on Friday at 2pm when the Highlanders welcome first-time opponent Kent State (4-4) on Faculty/Staff Appreciation Day.
