NEWARK, NJ–The NJIT women's basketball team will continue its four game home stretch on Wednesday at 7pm hosting Rider.
Game Information
Tip off is slated for 7pm inside Joel and Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center produced on ESPN+ with in-game statistics available on NJITHighlanders.com. How to Watch?
Women's Basketball Attendance Record (Non-Education Day Game) at the WEC
The 1,631 fans on Sunday, November 12 against No. 10 Notre Dame were the most fans at a regular season women's basketball game, non-Education Day contest.
2-0 Start for Highlanders
The Highlanders 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)
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.
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
The NJIT women's basketball team dropped its first game of the season to visiting No. 10 Notre Dame, 104-57, Sunday afternoon inside the Joel and Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center.
Sunday marked the sixth time NJIT faced an ACC opponent and second time in program history, hosting an ACC opponent in Newark, NJ. NJIT hosted Clemson on January 2, 2014.
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 and Miami (FL), who NJIT will visit on December 3, rounded out the Top-25.
The attendance (1,631 fans) for Sunday's women's basketball game was the most fans during a regular home game, a non-Education Day game.
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 Rider
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Rider enters Wednesday's contest with a 1-1 overall record, most recently defeating Merrimack on November 12.
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Both NJIT and Rider faced Merrimack in 2023 with both squads earning wins. NJIT defeated Merrimack in overtime 48-45 on November 6 at home.
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The Broncs were picked to finish tenth in the MAAC Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Broncs return just two starters and only five members of last year's team.
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The Broncs finished last season 10-21 with a 6-14 MAAC mark. The Broncs defeated Marist in the opening round of the MAAC Tournament.
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Rider has made the MAAC Semifinals in five of the last seven seasons. The Broncs were named MAAC Champions for 2019-20 for the first time in program history.
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Makayla Firebaugh) was named Preseason Second-Team All-MAAC. The 2020-21 MAAC Co-Rookie of the Year averaged 14.3 points and 4.7 rebounds per game last season.
Next Up
The four-game homestead rounds out on Saturday, November 18 vs. Wagner Inside the Joel and Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center at 1pm.
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.
