NEWARK, NJ–The NJIT women's basketball team continues its five game road swing on Wednesday, taking a short trip to FDU.
Game Information
Tip off is slated for 7pm inside Stratis Arena and will be produced on the Yes Network and NEC Front Row with in-game statistics available on FDUKnights.com.
All-Time Series
FDU leads the all-time series, 13-4 with the Knights winning the last eight meetings.
The NJIT-FDU series dates back to 2006. The last time NJIT defeated FDU was November 19, 2014, 68-64, in Hackensack.
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 in the five-game stretch came against then-ranked top-10 team Notre Dame (currently ranked No. 18).
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
Common Opponents
Both NJIT and FDU faced Army West Point and Rider in November. The Highlanders came out on top in both games while FDU dropped a 71-63 decision to the Black Knights and came away with its first win of the season, 64-59 against Rier.
Last Time Out for NJIT
Junior Trinity Williams scored a career-best 18 points, but it wasn't enough as Hofstra held off visiting NJIT for a 67-65 home win Saturday afternoon inside the David Mack Sports & Exhibition Complex.
The game had six lead changes and four ties all coming in the fourth quarter, the final one coming in the fourth quarter 65-65 with twenty-eight seconds remaining. NJIT had an opportunity in the final possession, holding for one shot, but found themselves trapped near the sideline, having turned the ball over and sending Hofstra to the free throw line to seal the game, 67-65.
Williams, which netted a career-best 18 points, pulled down eight rebounds and recorded four blocks. Sophomore Alejandra Zuniga was NJIT's other double-figure scorer, scoring 14 points. Lyzi Litwinko added nine points and freshman Madilyn Dogs filled up the box score with five points, six rebounds, four steals and three blocks.
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 hosted 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
–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).
–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.
–The 31 points scored by Zuniga against Binghamton on February 15, 2023 are the most points scored by a freshman since the 2008 season.
–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).
–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
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 FDU Knights
FDU enters Wednesday's contest with a 1-5 overall record, picking up its first win of the season on Sunday against Rider, 64-59, snapping a five-game skid. Staci Williams posted a career-high 12 points on 4-for-6 from the field and picked up two steals.
The Knights, who opened the 2023-24 campaign at then-ranked No. 3 Iowa, were selected to finish fourth in the NEC Preseason Coaches Poll and returns five from last season's squad with Mia Andrews, Abaigeal Babore, Abby Conklin, Dominique García Blackwood and Allie McGinn.
After an off-season coaching change, Stephanie Gaitley's staff went right to work to bring in nine new faces to the program, including three transfers with a combined six years of collegiate experience. Among the transfers is Teneisia Brown who spent one year on Merrimack's roster and was named to the Preseason All-NEC squad last season.
Brown paces the Knights averaging 9.8ppg and 5.0rpg while shooting 46.2 percent from the field. Abby Conklin and Lilly Parke are averaging 9.3ppg and 9.2ppg respectively for the Knights. Parke leads the Knights on the glass at 5.3rpg while Conklin leads the team with 14 three-pointers made.
The Knights went 24-8 last season, including 14 NEC victories en route to the program's second WNIT bid in as many seasons.
Next Up
NJIT will visit first-time opponent Miami who reached the 2023 NCAA Elite Eight on December 3 at 12 Noon on ACCNX/ESPN+.
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
