Photo Gallery vs. Jacksonville
Post Game Comments from Coach Lane
NJIT Highlights vs. Jacksonville
NEWARK, NJ—Junior forward Danielle Tunstall led NJIT with her fifth double-double of the season (11 points, 10 rebounds) but it wasn't enough as visiting Jacksonville came away with a 61-56 victory Saturday in ASUN Conference action at NJIT's Wellness and Events Center.
Jacksonville, winners of the last two out of three games, moves above .500 in ASUN action, 3-2 ASUN, 10-8 overall while the Highlanders move to an even 2-2 in ASUN, 5-12 overall.
Senior guard Jasmyn Brown led Jacksonville with a team-best 13 points and eight rebounds while Kiara Meeks, who came off the bench for the Dolphins, added 11 points, eight rebounds and five steals.
As a team, the Dolphins out-rebounded the Highlanders on the boards, 55-to-31.
NJIT's Kelly Guarino led the Highlanders for the fifth straight game, scoring 18 points, sinking four three-pointers and finishing 6-of-8 from the free throw line.
Tunstall and Milena Bajic each finished with 11 points for the Highlanders while Tunstall notches her fifth double-double on the year, grabbing 10 rebounds.
NJIT took control from the opening tip, jumping out to a 9-2 lead just under the five-minute media timeout, behind four points from Danielle Tunstall.
Visiting Jacksonville mounted a 7-4 spurt to cut the Highlander deficit to within four, 13-9, to close out the first quarter.
The Dolphins Jasmyn Brown scored the first bucket of the second quarter with 9:10 on the clock and neither team would score over the next 2:20 until a jumper by Jacksonville's Alexis Pierce, which sparked an 8-2 run for the Dolphins, pulling ahead, 19-15. Pierce scored eight points in the run for the visitors.
NJIT cut the lead to within three on two different occasions in the quarter, the final at the 2:17 mark, 25-22, after a layup by Tatianna Torres.
At the half, Jacksonville led 27-22, paced by Brown with nine points and Kiara Meeks with six. NJIT's top scorers were Tunstall and Torres with six points apiece.
Guarino connected on a three-pointer to open the third quarter as the visitors scored eight consecutive for a 35-25 lead under the five-minute media. NJIT closed the gap to within single digits, eight, twice in the final 3:32, 37-29, thanks to a jumper by Jillian Libby with eight seconds remaining in the quarter.
Jacksonville pushed its momentum into the fourth quarter, taking its largest lead of the game, 15, 45-30, on one-of-two free throws made by Rolanda Hayes. The home team kept fighting back, cutting the Dolphins deficit to singles digits for the first time in the quarter, nine, 47-38, on a trey ball by Kelly Guarino.
Jacksonville extended its lead back to double-figures one last time, 11, 54-43, on a jumper by Brown. NJIT's Dez Allen sparked the Highlanders 7-1 spurt, pulling within five of Jacksonville, 55-50, after a three-pointer by Danielle Tunstall.
Jacksonville extended its lead to eight, 61-53, to secure the game as NJIT's Guarino hit a last second three-pointer from mid-court to end the game.
NJIT will return to action on Tuesday, January 22 at Stetson in DeLand, FL. Tip-off is scheduled for 7pm on ESPN+.
