NEWARK, NJ–The NJIT women's basketball team will open the 2023 home campaign on Friday night, hosting first time opponent Merrimack.
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?
All-Time Series
Friday will mark the first meeting between the two teams.
Last Time Out
Sophomore Alejandra Zuniga netted a game-high 23 points, leading the Highlanders to a 73-57 road victory at Army West Point in the 2023-24 season opener for both teams inside Christl Arena.
NJIT outscored Army West Point in the first quarter, 25-7 and held a 38-15 advantage at the half. The Black Knights produced 26 third quarter points, pulling within 15 of the visitors, 56-41. NJIT edged Army West Point, 17-16, in the fourth quarter with the Black Knights cutting the deficit to six point, 56-50, but the Highlanders pushed its lead back up to double-digits, to secure the road win.
In addition to Zuniga's 23 points, graduate student Kenna Squier netted 16 points followed by Aria Myers and Reese Vaughan each adding nine points. Zuniga, the 2023 America East Rookie of the Year, finished the game shooting 8-for-10 from the field and a perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line. Freshman Madilyn Dogs added seven points, nine rebounds and three blocks in her collegiate debut.
Flash Back to 2022-23 Season
The 13 overall wins were two shy of the second most wins in the NJIT DI era (15 wins in 2021-22); Most Wins (16: 2012-12).
NJIT, which finished fifth in the America East Conference standings, combined for eight America East wins, one shy of the program-record of nine (2021-22).
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
Returning Starters (5) | 2022-23 Season Averages
Alejandra Zuniga, G – 12.3 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 2.6 apg
Kenna Squier, G – 11.0 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 38 steals
Trinity Williams, F – 10.2 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 1.5 bpg
Aria Myers, G – 8.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg
Lyzi Litwinko, G – 8.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg
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.
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 Merrimack Warriors
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Merrimack enters Friday's contest with a 0-1 mark, coming off a close loss to UAlbany, 58-55. Three Warriors reached double-digits: Jayme DeCesare (15pts), Rose Caso (12pts) and Amaya Staton (10pts).
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Merrimack is coming off their best season of the Kelly Morrone era in 2022-23 finishing third in the conference going 10-6 in NEC play and finishing 15-16 overall.
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The Warriors were picked to finish second in the NEC in the preseason poll only behind Sacred Heart.
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Graduate students Jayme DeCesare and Kaylee Thomas were named to the Preseason All-NEC team. A season ago, DeCesare averaged 10.5ppg, 3.5apg, and 4.2rpg while Thomas averaged 11.5ppg, second on the team, 3.4rpg, and 1.8apg.
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The 2023-24 season is the first year of postseason eligibility for all sports at Merrimack.
Next Up
The four-game homestead inside the Joel and Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center will will continue with ACC opponent #10 Notre Dame on Sunday, November 12 followed by 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.
