NEWARK, NJ–The NJIT women's basketball team will return to action after the Thanksgiving Holiday on Saturday, November 25 when the Highlanders visit Hofstra.
Game Information
Tip off is slated for 2pm inside in the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex produced on FloSports.com with in-game statistics available on GoHofstra.com.
All-Time Series
Hofstra leads the all-time series, 3-0. The all-time series dates back to 2008 when the two teams tipped off in a neutral site in Jersey City, NJ at the Saint Peter's Holiday Classic.
12/9/04 | Hofstra 62, NJIT 47 | Newark, NJ
3/8/14 | Hofstra 77, NJIT 68 | Hempstead, NY
12/29/08 | Hofstra 60, NJIT 43 | Jersey City, NJ
Started Off the Season 4-1 | Best Start Since 2012-13
The Highlanders started off the season 4-1 for the first time since the 2012-13 season. NJIT opened up the season at Army West Point (Nov. 6) and came away with a 73-57 road victory, 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) and had four players score in double-figures in the home win over Rider. NJIT exploded for 80 points in a 80-36 win over Wagner on November 18, paced by four double-figure scorers. The Highlanders lone loss came against top-10 team Notre Dame.
Nov. 6 | at Army West Point | W, 73-57
Nov. 10 | vs. Merrimack | W, 48-45 (OT)
Nov. 12 | vs. #10 Notre Dame | 57-104
Nov. 15 | vs. Rider | W, 70-57
Nov. 18 | vs. Wagner | W, 80-36
Last Time Out
The NJIT women's basketball team feel on the road at Lafayette, 83-60 despite three players in reaching double-figures paced by a team-best 13 points from Lyzi Litwinko.
The Leopards held a 49-25 lead after the first 20 minutes. NJIT rallied back in the third quarter and outscored Lafayette, 22-14, trimming the deficit to 16, 63-47, but the home team increased its lead to 20+ to secure the 80-63 home victory.
In addition to Litwinko, Alejandra Zuniga scored (12), Kenna Squier (10) and Trinity Williams (9).
Poured in a Season-Best 80 Points
The 80 points in the win over Wagner (80-36) on November 18 is a season-high and are the most points scored by a Highlander team since the 2019-20 season when the Highlanders defeated Saint Francis Brooklyn 88-69 in Newark.
Sophomore Alejandra Zuniga netted a game-best 11 points followed by Trinity Williams (10), Lyzi Litwinko (10) and Reese Vaughan (10). Litwinko went 4-of-5 from the field and Gingrich finished 2-of-4 from three-point range.
Dishing Out Dimes
As a team, NJIT dished out 20 assists in the win over Wagner, 80-36, on November 18. The 20 assists are the most by a Highlander team since the 2019-20 season (28 vs. St. Francis Brooklyn; 11.26.19).
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.
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
Women's Basketball Announces 2028 Class
NJIT sixth-year head coach Mike Lane announced the addition of five high school standouts who will join the Highlanders for the 2024-25 season.
Allison Cannon (Holmdel, NJ), Piper Engelby (Andover, MN), Olivia Kulyk (Edniboro, PA), Olivia O'Meally (Niskayuna, NY) and Mayah Alford (Levittown, PA) will begin their first semester with the Highlanders in the Fall of 2024.
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 Pride of Hofstra
Hofstra enters Saturday's contest with a 2-2 overall record, most recently falling against Defending NEC Champions Sacred Heart, 63-60. Sorelle Ineza (20pts), Zyheima Swint (10pts), and Emma Von Essen (18pts) all finished in double-figures for Hofstra.
Ineza and Von Essen pace the Pride, averaging double-figures (13.0ppg) and 12.3ppg) while Swint tops the team on the boards (12.0rpg) and seven blocks.
The Pride is coming off a 12-20 overall record last season with an appearance in the quarterfinals of the CAA Women's Basketball Championship, becoming the first 12-seed to advance to the quarterfinals since Georgia State in 2006.
Hofstra returns four from last season's squad, headlined by returning starters Sorelle Ineza (10.0 ppg, 2.4 rpg), Zyheima Swint (8.1 ppg, 7.0 rpg), Emma Von Essen (7.5 ppg, 1.8 rpg), and Ally Knights (3.3 ppg, 3.5 apg).
Next Up
NJIT in a stretch of a five game road swing, will make a short trip to Fairleigh Dickinson on November 29. Tip off is slated for 7pm on the Yes Network.
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
