Photo Gallery
VIDEO: NJIT Highlights
VIDEO: Post Game w/ Head Coach Mike Lane and Kenna Squier
VIDEO: Post Game Wrap Up with Assistant Coach Aaron Gratch
NEWARK, NJ–The NJIT women's basketball team picked up a home win on Tuesday behind three players registering double-figures paced by a game-best 17 points from Alejandra Zuniga in the Highlanders 66-47 win over visiting Saint Peter's Tuesday evening inside NJIT's Wellness and Events Center.
With the win, NJIT moves to 6-5 overall while Saint Peter's falls to 2-6 on the season.
After a tight first quarter with NJIT leading 19-16 after 10 minutes the Highlanders outscored Saint Peter's 18-4 in the second quarter, highlighted by consecutive points for a 15-point lead heading into the half, 37-19. The Peacocks came out on top in the third stanza, 18-10 but the Highlanders closed the door in the final quarter, 19-10, including a 13-2 start to the quarter, securing the home victory 66-47.
In addition to Zuniga's game-best 17 points, Kenna Squier finished with 14 points while Trinity Williams added 13. Squier moved into second in the NJIT Division I era with 1,262 career points and holds the record for career steals (166). Williams combined for her second double-double of the season with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Back home for the first time in over 20 days, NJIT got off to a quick start, taking a 10-3 lead, heading into the under-five media timeout. Saint Peter's went on a 9-4 run to close the Highlander gap to within two, 14-12, at the 2:00 mark. NJIT closed out the final 1:40 on a short 5-2 spurt for a four-point lead after the first 10 minutes, 19-15.
In the second quarter, NJIT used a 16-0 run over a span of the final eight minutes (18-4 over 10:00) to take a commanding 37-19 lead heading into the half.
After the first 20 minutes, Alejandra Zuniga led all players with 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the field followed by Williams with nine points, seven rebounds to go along with three blocks.
Saint Peter's scored the first nine points of the third quarter to slim the Highlander lead to single digits, 37-28, at the 6:16 mark. Madilyn Dogs sparked a 6-0 spurt as NJIT took a 43-28 lead with 3:35 to go. In the final three minutes, Saint Peter's finished the quarter on a 9-4 run for a 10-point game heading into the fourth quarter.
NJIT continued its strong play into the fourth quarter, scoring five in a row, including a three-point play off a steal and finish by Squier and the Highlanders outscored the Peacocks, 19-10 in the final stanza to get back into the win column with a 66-47 victory.
NJIT finished 84.6 percent from the free throw line (11-for-13) and 48.1% from the field goal (26-for-54) held a one-rebound edge over the Peacocks, 30-to-29, led by a game-best 10 rebounds from Williams.
Saint Peter's Carys Roy led the Peacocks with 16 points and eight rebounds off the bench.
Next Up
NJIT will host Saint Francis U (Dec. 15 at 6pm) before breaking for Christmas and as part of a doubleheader with the NJIT men, NJIT will host LIU (Dec. 31 at 1pm) followed by the NJIT men vs. Morgan State at 4:30pm inside the Joel & Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center to close out 2023.
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
