NEWARK, NJ—Visiting Colgate defeated NJIT, 79-52 in the season opener for both teams Tuesday evening at the Wellness and Events Center in women's basketball non-conference action.
 
NJIT (0-1) was led by freshman Kenna Squier, who scored a game-best 14 points in her collegiate debut as a Highlander.  The guard from Branchville, NJ, went 5-for-9 from the field and 3-for-4 from the free throw line.
 
Junior guard Ellyn Stoll netted 12 points while freshman forward Dani Evans came off the bench for the Highlanders to score nine points in 16 minutes of action, sinking 3-of-4 from three-point range in her collegiate debut.
 
Senior co-captain Danielle Tunstall pulled down a game-best 10 rebounds and added four total blocks.
 
Colgate (1-0) had four double-figure scorers in the game, paced by Alexa Brodie and Keelah Dixon, each notching 11 points followed by Nia Ahart and Taylor Langan with 10 points apiece.
 
Colgate jumped off to a quick start in the first period, 7-2, paced by four points from Abby Schubiger.  NJIT used a 6-2 run to close the Raider gap to one, 9-8, with 5:12 left on the clock. The Raiders responded with a jumper in the paint but NJIT's Ellyn Stoll knocked down a jump shot just outside the paint, cutting the lead to within one, 11-10, at the 4:19 mark.
 
The Raiders increased its lead to five, 15-10, after four straight points and held a five-point advantage, 18-13, after knocking down one of two from the free throw line with twenty-seven seconds.
 
Colgate continued its momentum into the second period, opening up on a 6-2 spurt, taking its first double-digit lead of the game, 24-14.  The Highlanders cut the deficit to seven, 27-20, sparked by an old-fashioned three-point play by Danielle Tunstall and three-pointer by Dani Evans.
 
The Highlanders pulled within seven, 29-22, after a pair of free throws made by Ellyn Stoll, but the Raiders closed out the period on a 5-1 run for a 34-23 lead heading into the locker room.
 
Colgate's Schubiger led all scorers at the half with eight points, shooting 3-for-5 from the field while NJIT's Stoll paced the Highlanders with seven points on 2-of-3 from the field and 3-for-4 from the free throw line.
 
The visitors came out on fire in the third period, scoring the first six points, taking a 41-23 lead.  NJIT scored back-to-back buckets from Ellyn Stoll and Kenna Squier and Stoll connected on a three-pointer from the left wing, cutting the Raider lead to within 13, 43-30, with 4:10 on the clock.  NJIT's Stoll led all players after three periods with 12 points.
 
Colgate went on to outscore the home team in the final period, 28-17, to secure the 79-52 victory.
 
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.