NJIT GAME HIGHLIGHTS (VIDEO)


JACKSONVILLE, FL—Senior Kelly Guarino scored a game-high 24 points, leading visiting NJIT to a regular season series sweep over North Florida, 66-62, in ASUN Conference women's basketball action at UNF Arena Saturday afternoon.

NJIT (2-10 ASUN, 4-23 overall) picks up the programs first-ever regular season series sweep in the ASUN Conference since joining the league (first season 2015-16).  The Highlanders also snap a 16-game losing streak on the road, which dates back to January 28, 2017, when NJIT defeated Lipscomb, 76-68.

Guarino tied her career-best mark 24 points (last time at Virginia – December 15, 2015), shooting 8-for-13 from the field, 6-of-10 from three-point range and 2-of-2 from the charity strip.  The six three-pointers are a season-best (one-shy her career-best 7 three-pointers at Virginia).

In addition to Guarino, Tatianna Torres scored 16 points, dished out a game-best five assists, three rebounds and one steal.  Freshman Ellyn Stoll netted 15 points while Taj Lewis grabbed a team-best eight rebounds in 22 minutes of action.

North Florida (4-8 ASUN, 11-16 overall) was led by guard Tiffany Tolbert's 19 points followed by a double-double for Keonna Farmer (15 points, 19 rebounds) and Tesh Hanson (13 points, 13 rebounds).

The Ospreys outrebounded NJIT, 49-to-37, and held a 14-to-3 second chance points.

North Florida scored the first two baskets of the game and NJIT's Guarino got things going for the Highlanders, scoring eight straight points, knotting the game at 12 at the 4:18 mark. 

A quick 4-0 spurt put the Highlanders ahead, 16-12, as North Florida tied the game at 16-all after four consecutive points by Tolbert.  NJIT's Amarri Trueheart converted an old-fashion three-point play with :30 left in the quarter to give NJIT a 19-16 lead.

The Highlanders took a double-digit lead in the second quarter on an 12-3 run, pulling ahead by 12, 31-19, after a Taj Lewis spin move in the post, fast break layup by Ellyn Stoll from Jordan Ireland and jumper in the paint by Dez Allen with the shot clock winding down.

After keeping North Florida scoreless for 6:45, the Ospreys converted a layup by Tesh Hansen at the 2:11 mark, which sparked a 9-3 run for the home team and closed out the quarter down five, 34-28.  Adrienne Jackson scored seven-of-the-last nine points for the Ospreys.

At the half, Tiffany Tolbert led all scorers with 10 points while Guarino and Torres paced the Highlanders with eight points followed by Stoll with seven.

NJIT continued its momentum into the third quarter, starting the period off on a 9-0 run, and extended its lead to 13, 46-33, after a three-pointer by Guarino with 6:34 on the clock.

North Florida went on a 15-2 spurt, slimming the Highlander lead to within two, 48-46, with 23 seconds left but NJIT's Stoll sank a three-pointer from the corner to end the period, giving the Highlanders a 51-46 advantage.

NJIT came out on fire in the fourth quarter, pushing its lead up to 11, 59-48, after an 8-2 start in the stanza.  Guarino connected on her fifth three-pointer of the game to give NJIT an 11-point cushion.

North Florida worked its way back into the game, cutting the Highlander lead to single digits, 64-60, after scoring six straight with 1:17 left to play.

Torres knocked down one-of-two from the free throw line, for a five-point game, 65-60, but a converted three-point play by Maiya Rumph with :41, pulled the home team to within three, 65-62.

NJIT's Torres hit one-of-two with seven seconds, giving the Highlanders a four-point advantage, 66-62, and the Highlanders held on for sweep over North Florida.

NJIT will visit Jacksonville on Monday night at 7pm at The Historic Gymnasium.  In the last meeting in Newark, Jacksonville recorded an 88-58 victory.