NEWARK, NJ–The NJIT women's basketball team will look to continue its hot start in America East Conference play on Saturday when the Highlanders host Maine.

Game Information
Tip off is slated for 2pm inside NJIT's Wellness and Events Center with the game produced on ESPN3 and in-game statistics available on NJITHighlanders.com

All-Time Series
Saturday will mark the eighth meeting between the two schools.  Maine owns a 4-3 all-time series record.  Maine owns the all-time series, 4-3, after defeating the Highlanders 72-48, in last season's America East semifinal round. NJIT defeated Maine in overtime, 67-59, on Jan. 2 in Bangor, Maine.  Prior to NJIT joining the league, the two teams met in 2009, a contest won by NJIT in Newark by a score of 63-50. The first-ever meeting came in 2008.

America East Conference
NJIT will begin its third season in the America East and will play a schedule of 16 conference games against the other eight schools.  The Highlanders became the 10th full member of the America East on July 1, 2020 and were selected to finish fourth in the 2022-23 preseason coaches poll, receiving 42 votes.

NJIT has won its #AEHoops opener in all three of its seasons as a league member.  The Highlanders swept their opening week of games for the second straight year. In 2021-22 NJIT started the year 4-0 in conference play. 

Last Time Out
The NJIT women's basketball team rang in the New Year with its second straight America East Conference victory with a 60-56 road win at UMass Lowell Sunday afternoon inside Costello Athletic Center.

NJIT, which starts its third season in the America East, begins league action 2-0 for the second straight season, improving to 7-7 overall.  Last season, NJIT opened up league play 4-0.

Leading the Highlanders to victory in the New Year was junior Aria Myers and Alejandra Zuniga who shared game-high honors with 18 points.  Myers went 5-for-9 from the field, 2-of-2 from three-point range and 6-for-8 from the free throw line.  Zuniga came off the bench and finished 7-for-13 from the field and 3-of-3 from the free throw line.

Trinity Williams chipped in 10 points while Kenna Squier added nine points as both shot 4-for-5 from the field.

Scouting Maine
Maine enters Saturday's contest on a two-game win streak as it has started AE play with wins over Bryant and UMass Lowell. Adrianna Smith is averaging 24.5 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 5.0 assists in league play, has tallied seven double-doubles this season to lead the AE in that category and check in 17th nationally in the mark. Smith, with double-digit scoring efforts in each of her last five outings, has produced a double-double in three-straight. The sophomore forward ranks second in the league in rebounding (8.3), second in assists (3.9) and fifth in scoring (12.6). 

Smith is coming off a 30 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists against UMass Lowell, which marks the first time an America East player has produced that line against a Division-I opponent since 2009-10. 

Caroline Bornemann, coming off hitting four triples against UMass Lowell, ranks 12th in the league in scoring (10.6), sixth in rebounding (6.4), and seventh in three-pointers made per game (1.5). 

Anne Simon returned from another injury setback to drop 17 points with nine rebounds and three steals against UMass Lowell. Simon is averaging 10.5 points and 3.7 rebounds through six games. Maine ranks fifth in the America East in scoring (58.5), sixth in scoring defense (63.4), and first in both assists (13.6) and three-pointers made per game (7.4).

Next Up
NJIT will play its next two conference games on the road, first visiting Binghamton on January 11 (7pm) and UAlbany on January 14 (3pm).

Stay Connected
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