NEWARK, NJ—With less than a week to the start of the 2019-20 women's basketball campaign, second-year head coach Mike Lane returns three starters, including top returning scorer Danielle Tunstall and adds seven newcomers to the roster.

Lane begins his second season at the helm of the Highlanders, after spending six seasons at Bucknell University as the top assistant coach, where he helped guide the Bison to a program-best 27-6 mark, Patriot League title and conference championship while earning a berth to the NCAA Tournament in 2017.

The three key returners back for the 2019-20 season are seniors Tunstall and Milena Bajic as well as junior Ellyn Stoll.

Last season, Tunstall averaged 11.5 points and 7.5 board per game, while Stoll totaled 238 points (7.9 points per game), adding 64 assists and 36 three-point field goals.

Bajic, who made her first appearance as a Highlander last season, averaged 6.5 points per game and had six double-figure performances.

"We have to depend on our veteran players," Lane added.  "Our older kids have been in the system for a year now, they are established and you can see that in practice.  With Danielle (Tunstall), Ellyn (Stoll) and Milena (Bajic), we really expect them to lead this team on and off the court.  We have a lot of youth and inexperience so we are relying on those veterans in addition to Maddie Martin, Samantha Schultz, Tracey Brereton, who didn't get as much opportunity last year but know the system and now they have to do it on the court."

Redshirt freshman Maddie Martin, who is coming off two ACL injuries, will step on the hardwood for the first time in her collegiate career.  The 5-foot-7 guard is a two-time District 2 Small School Player of the Year by NPF Sports and scored 1,516 points and made 225 three-pointers during her career at Dunmore.

"We have a big freshman class with a lot to learn," Lane added. "The biggest adjustment will be the mental side -- the physical side they will have to respond too."

Point guard Kenna Squier with exceptional court vision capped her high school career at Pope John XXIII High School (played two seasons at Sussex Tech before transferring), leading Pope John to an undefeated season as NJAC American Division Conference Champions.  She was selected NJAC and NJ Herald Player of the Year, NJAC American Division and All-Area first-team, combining over 2,000 career points.

Kennedy Cash, the 5-foot-9 combo guard from Charlotte, NC, is a fill-the-stat-sheet guard.  Cash guided Ardrey Kell High School (23-6 overall) to the SoMeck 7 Conference Regular Season and Tournament Champions.

A dynamic guard who can run a team from the point guard spot or stretch the floor from the wing, Kendle Dalrymple capped her career at Ocean Lakes High School, reaching the 1,000-point and 500 career assist milestones.  Dalrymple holds the single-game and career record for three-pointers made at Ocean Lakes.

Maria Fux, a versatile post, who has three-point range and sees the floor well, represented Argentina this summer in the U19 Women's Basketball World Cup in Thailand.  The 6-foot forward is a member of the Argentinian national team, participated in six national FIBA tournaments and captured the title at the South American Tournament Champions in 2017.

A talented wing in Marissa McDonald, the 6-foot guard from West Chester East High School, was selected as a McDonald's All-American nominee, leading West Chester East to its first postseason in five seasons and first district win in over 10 years.  McDonald reached the 1,000-point milestone, finishing fourth in the West Chester East's all-time list with 1,139 career points.

A versatile forward who will score and rebound in the paint, Dani Evans concluded her sensational career at Jackson Memorial High School, averaging 12.4 points per game and 8.6 rebounds per game as a senior.  She wrapped up her high school career with 933 points, 733 rebounds.

Older sister Kimi Evans, who played two seasons at Seton Hall, will practice with the Highlanders in 2019-20, but will not compete until the 2020-21 season under NCAA Division I transfer rules.

The 2019 season tips off at home on November 5, hosting Colgate inside NJIT's Wellness and Events Center.  Last season, the Highlanders defeated the Raiders, 71-53.

NJIT will play a pair of road games at first time opponents Air Force Academy on November 8 and Colorado on November 10.  The game at Colorado will mark the return of former CU assistant coach and current NJIT assistant, LaTonya Watson.