WATCH: NJIT Highlights at FGCU
FORT MYERS, FL—FGCU's Lisa Zderadicka scored a game-high 19 points, leading the Eagles to a 61-42 victory over visiting NJIT in ASUN Conference action at Alico Arena Tuesday evening.
FGCU, who remains undefeated in ASUN play, moves to 11-0 in the league, 20-4 overall while the battling Highlanders drop to 2-8 in the ASUN, 5-18 overall.
In addition to Zderadicka, Ulel Nasrin scored 16 points and grabbed six rebounds in the victory. Zderadicka shot 7-for-15 from the field, 4-of-5 from the free throw line, recording four steals and two assists. Forward Tytionia Adderly pulled down a game-best 16 rebounds.
Sophomore guard Ellyn Stoll paced the Highlanders with 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field and 2-of-5 from beyond the arc, adding four assists and three rebounds. Junior forward Danielle Tunstall registered 11 points and eight rebounds while graduate student Kelly Guarino added nine points (all from behind the arc).
The Highlanders held the advantage on the boards 44-to-37, as nine-out-of-10 players recorded at least three bounds in the game.
NJIT's Milena Bajic scored the opening basket of the game and the Highlanders took a 5-4 lead on a contested three-pointer by Kelly Guarino three-pointer just under the seven minute mark. FGCU regained its advantage with a 6-2 spurt, taking a three-point lead, 10-7. The Highlanders answered and closed out the first quarter on 6-2 run sparked by a layup from Tunstall and capped by a layup from Ellyn Stoll, as the Highlanders held a three-point lead, 13-10.
A 5-0 start for FGCU to start the second quarter, pushed the Eagles lead to 17-13 at the 8:13 mark. After back-to-back baskets by NJIT's Tunstall, the Eagles used a 7-0 run to extend its lead seven, 24-17, at the 3:29 mark.
Stoll knocked down a three-pointer with the shot clock winding down to slim the Eagles lead to four, 24-20 with less than three minutes to play. FGCU's Lisa Zderadicka scored five straight points and the Eagles headed into the locker room with a 29-22 lead.
The Eagles were led by two double-figure scorers at the half — Zderadick with 14 points and Nasrin Ulel with 10 points and four rebounds. NJIT's top scorer after the first 20 minutes was Tunstall with eight points and four rebounds.
After four straight points to open the second half for FGCU, the Eagles extended its lead to as many as 17, 46-29.
The Highlanders battled in the fourth quarter, finishing strong with a 8-1 run but it wasn't enough as the Eagles secured a 61-42 victory.
NJIT will return to action on Saturday when the Highlanders host North Florida for the first time this season inside the Wellness and Events Center. Tip-off is slated for 1pm on ESPN+. As part of a doubleheader with the NJIT men, the Highlanders will take on the Ospreys at 4pm on ESPN+.
