NEWARK, NJ–The NJIT women's basketball team will welcome top-10 opponent Notre Dame on Sunday, November 12 at 2pm.
Game Information
Tip off is slated for 2pm inside Joel and Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center produced on ESPN+ with in-game statistics available on NJITHighlanders.com. How to Watch?
2-0 Start for Highlanders
The Highlanders have started off the season 2-0 for the first time since the 2016-17 season. NJIT opened up the season at Army West Point (Nov. 6) and came away with a 73-57 road victory and pulled out an overtime home victory at home over first time opponent Merrimack (Nov. 10) 48-45, paced by Trinity Williams double-double (12pts, 11reb).
Nov. 6 | at Army West Point | W, 73-57
Nov. 10 | vs. Merrimack | W, 48-45 (OT)
All-Time Series
Sunday will mark the first meeting between the two teams.
NJIT Head Coach Mike Lane Notre Dame Alum
A 1993 graduate of Notre Dame, Lane earned his bachelor's degree in business administration with a concentration in marketing.
USA TODAY Preseason Top 25 (as of October 17, 2023) | Full Release
For the first time in women's basketball program history, the Highlanders have two USA TODAY Preseason Top-25 teams on the non-conference schedule.
Notre Dame, who the Highlanders will host in Newark on November 12 at 2pm ranks 10th while Miami (FL), who NJIT will visit on December 3, rounded out the Top-25.
Highlanders Against the Atlantic Coast Conference
Sunday will mark the sixth time NJIT will face an ACC opponent and will be the second time in program history, hosting an ACC opponent in Newark, NJ. NJIT hosted Clemson on January 2, 2014. The Highlanders are 0-5 against ACC teams.
at Virginia Tech | 12.29.09
at Boston College | 1.21.09
vs. Clemson | 1.2.14
at Clemson | 12.29.14
at Virginia | 12.5.15
Four Teams Reaching Postseason in 2023 on the Highlanders Non-Conference Slate
NJIT women's basketball head coach Mike Lane announced the non-conference schedule for the upcoming 2023-24 season, which includes four teams that reached postseason in 2023 and is highlighted by a visit from Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) opponent Notre Dame and a trip south to Miami (FL).
For the first time in program history, NJIT will host Notre Dame on Sunday, November 12 inside NJIT's Wellness and Events Center. The Irish, who reached the 2023 NCAA Sweet Sixteen, finished with a 27-6 overall record. NJIT's Lane is a 1993 graduate of Notre Dame, where he earned his bachelor's degree in business administration with a concentration in marketing.
Miami, who the Highlanders will visit for the first time on December 3, reached the 2023 NCAA Elite Eight, finishing with a 22-13 overall record.
The Highlanders will make a short trip to Northeast Conference regular season champion Fairleigh Dickinson (24-8 overall, 14-2 NEC) on November 29. FDU earned an automatic qualifier bid to the 2023 WNIT due to the Knights winning the NEC regular season title.
NJIT will travel to 2023 Northeast Conference Champion Sacred Heart (19-14 overall, 12-4 NEC) on December 6. The Pioneers registered the first NCAA Tournament win in program history and the first win for a Northeast Conference women's team.
Last Time Out for NJIT
Junior Trinity Williams registered a double-double, combining for 12 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Highlanders in a 48-45 overtime home victory over visiting Merrimack Friday evening.
In addition to Williams' game-best 12 points, sophomore Alejandra Zuniga notched 11 points. Freshman Audrey Kormann added six points and rebounds while Lilly Anderson grabbed six rebounds off the bench for NJIT.
NJIT held a 50-to-43 advantage on the boards led by Williams' game-high 11 rebounds followed by Madilyn Dogs (9) and Lilly Anderson (6).
The five blocks for Williams was one-shy of her career mark (6 at Binghamton; 1.11.13) while the three blocks from Kormann is a personal-best.
News & Notes on NJIT
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Top five scorers return from a season ago – Alejandra Zuniga (12.3), Kenna Squier (11.0), Trinity Williams (10.2), Aria Myers (8.9) and Lyzi Litwinko (8.8).
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Ready for her second season in a Highlander uniform is Alejandra Zuniga, who was selected America East Rookie of the Year, becoming the first player in NJIT women's basketball program history to be named to the accolade, including America East Third Team, America East All-Rookie Team.
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The 31 points scored by Zuniga against Binghamton on February 15, 2023 are the most points scored by a freshman since the 2008 season.
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Back for her graduate year, Kenna Squier was selected to the America East Conference third team. She currently sits fourth in the NJIT DI era with 1,161 points (7th all-time), 502 rebounds, 237 assists (5th in NJIT DI era), 141 steams (T-2nd DI era; T-10th all-time) and 106 games played/started (T-9th in NJIT DI era).
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Forward Trinity Williams started 28 games, putting up 10.2 points and a team-high 6.1 boards per game with 42 blocks
New Kids on the Block | Full Release
Madilyn Dogs, Guard, Kewaskum, WI/Kewaskum High School
Audrey Kormann, Forward, Maple Grove, MN/Maple Grove Senior High
Marissa Gingrich, Guard, Lewistown, PA/Mifflin County High School
Mackenzie Wright-Rawls, Forward, York, PA/Central York High School
Angelina Banas, Forward, Columbus, NJ/Notre Dame High School
America East Conference
NJIT will begin its fourth 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 fifth in the 2023-24 preseason coaches poll, receiving 38 votes.
The Highlanders, which made its third consecutive appearance in the 2023 America East postseason tournament, concluded its season with a 13-16 overall mark and 8-8 in the America East.
Fans will once again be able to watch every #AEHoops home game on The AE on ESPN with all games airing on ESPN+ or ESPN3 domestically and AmericaEast.TV internationally.
Scouting the Fighting Irish
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Coming off a 100-71 loss to No. 6 South Carolina in the season-opening game
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No. 10 Notre Dame vs. No. 6 South Carolina was the first college basketball game to be played in Paris
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Hannah Hidalgo, No. 5 recruit in the 2023 class according to the ESPN HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankings & 2023 Gatorade New Jersey Player of the Year, scored 31 points in against South Carolina on Nov. 6, the most points ever scored by an Irish freshman — male or female — in their Notre Dame debut
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Olivia Miles and Sonia Citron made the Blue Ribbon Panel Preseason All-ACC Team, and Hannah Hidalgo has been voted the conference's top newcomer.
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Citron, Named No. 18 player in the nation by ESPN ( on Nov. 9) was named 2022 ACC Rookie of the Year; last season, Citron led Notre Dame with 14.7 points per game, posted 5.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists.
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Head Coach Niele Ivey one of the top point guard to wear a Notre Dame uniform, enters her fourth season at the helm of the Fighting Irish
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Last season, Notre Dame won its first regular season ACC title since 2019 and the first under Ivey, made a second straight Sweet 16 in 2022-23.
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As a result of the team's success, Ivey was named the 2023 ACC Coach of the Year and was a finalist for the Naismith National Coach of the Year Award.
Next Up
The four-game homestead inside the Joel and Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center continues with Rider on November 15 and Wagner on November 18.
Stay Connected
Stay up to date during the NJIT Women's Basketball season by following @NJITWBB on Twitter and Instagram and liking the NJIT Women's Basketball page on Facebook.
