| Game 12 |
NJIT (5-5, 0-0 AE) vs. Saint Francis U (1-8, 0-0 NEC) |
| Date | Time |
Friday, December 15, 2023 | 6pm |
| Location | Arena |
Newark, NJ | Joel and Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center |
| Live Video |
ESPN+ |
| Live Stats |
In-game stats (free) |
| Game Notes |
NJIT Notes | SFU Notes |
NEWARK, NJ–The NJIT women's basketball team will host Saint Francis U before breaking for Christmas on December 15.
Game Information
Tip off is slated for 6pm inside the Joel and Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center and will be streamed live on ESPN+ with in-game statistics available on NJITHighlanders.com
All-Time Series
First meeting between the two schools.
Back for her Graduate Year - Kenna Squier
Squier was selected to the America East Conference third team. She moved into second in the NJIT DI era after the Highlanders win over Saint Peter's on December 12 and currently stands with 1,262 points (2nd NJIT DI era; 5th all-time), 541 rebounds, 249 assists (5th in NJIT DI era), 166 steals (1st DI era; 8th all-time) and 117 games played/started (T-5th in NJIT DI era).
The guard from Branchville, NJ, tied the NJIT Division I single-game record with seven steals in the Highlanders win at FDU on November 29.
Picking Up Where She Left Off - Alejandra Zuniga
Ready for her second season in a Highlander uniform is Zuniga, who was selected America East Rookie of the Year, became 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.
This season, Zuniga paces the Highlanders with 14.5ppg and has scored in double-digits in all 11 games this season, including two 20-point contests (season-high 23 at Army). Zuniga ranks fifth in the America East in scoring.
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
Four Teams Reaching Postseason in 2023 on the Highlanders Non-Conference Slate
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.
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 visited for the first time on December 3, reached the 2023 NCAA Elite Eight, finishing with a 22-13 overall record.
The Highlanders made 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, which dropped the previous eight meetings with the Knights, snapped the losing streak on November 29 coming out on top with a 61-46 victory.
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).
Forward Trinity Williams set a new personal-best mark of five assists at Miami on December 3.
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 Saint Francis U Red Flash
Saint Francis U enters Friday's contest with a 1-8 overall mark with its lone win coming against Morgan State, 69-59, on December 2.
The Red Flash, which last played on December 9, dropped a 69-32 decision at Youngstown State.
Freshman Kendall Carruthers, a two-time NEC Rookie of the Week honoree, paces the Red Flash in scoring at 12.8ppg while shooting 40.2 percent from the field (37-for-92) and 86.7 percent from the free throw line (26-for-30).
Kaitlyn Maxwell is the other double-figure scorer for the Red Flash, averaging 10.3ppg and Julianna Gibson tops the team with 5.3rpg.
Saint Francis will lean on returners Julianna Gibson, Harris Robinson and Marissa Shelton to fill bigger roles this season. Gibson led the group with 17 appearances last season, followed by Harris' 13.
Next Up
As part of a doubleheader with the NJIT men, NJIT will return to action and host LIU on 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
