| Game 13 |
NJIT (7-5, 0-0 AE) vs. LIU (1-9, 0-0 NEC) |
| Date | Time |
Sunday, December 31, 2023 | 1pm |
| 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 | LIU Notes |
NEWARK, NJ–The NJIT women's basketball team will close out the 2023 calendar year, hosting LIU in the Highlanders non-conference finale on New Year's Eve.
Game Information
Tip off is slated for 1pm 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.
As part of a doubleheader with the NJIT men, NJIT will host LIU 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.
All-Time Series
NJIT leads the all-time series, 2-0.
11.22.22 | NJIT 50, LIU 57 | Brooklyn, NY
11.18.21 | NJIT 59, 53 (OT) | Newark, NJ
Looking for Win No. 50 at NJIT for Head Coach Mike Lane
Head Coach Mike Lane, in his sixth season at the helm of the Highlanders, will look for his 50th coaching win at NJIT on Sunday.
The Fast Lane
The upward progression under Mike Lane since taking over in 2018-19, has the Highlanders qualifying for four consecutive appearances in the America East Conference Tournament, second-most overall wins in 2021-22 (15 wins), a program-best nine wins in league play (9) and finishing the non-conference slate above .500 for the first time in the NJIT DI era, which began in 2006-07.
2018-19: 6-24, 3-13 ASUN
2019-20: 4-25, 1-15 ASUN
2020-21: 4-14, 4-9 AE
2021-22: 15-15, 9-8 AE
2022-23: 13-16, 8-8 AE
2023-24: 7-5, 0-0 AE (AE begins Jan. 6 at UAlbany)
ProtectTheWEC
NJIT is 5-1 in 2023 inside the Joel and Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center.
11.10 vs. Merrimack | W, 48-45
11.12 vs. No. 10 Notre Dame | L, 57-104
11.15 vs. Rider | W, 70-57
11.18 vs. Wagner | W, 80-36
12.12 vs. Saint Peter's | W, 66-47
12.15 vs. Saint Francis U | W, 68-41
Last Time Out
The NJIT women's basketball team won its second straight game at home behind a game-best 23 points from sophomore Alejandra Zuniga as the Highlanders defeated visiting Saint Francis U, 68-41, Friday evening inside the Joel and Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center.
Zuniga, who registered her 12th straight double-digit game, finished with 23 points on 8-of-16 shooting from the field and 6-of-7 from three-point range. The six three-pointers made are a career-best.
Graduate student Kenna Squier added 11 points on 3-of-4 from the field and finished a perfect 4-of-4 from the free throw line.
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 LIU
LIU enters Sunday's contest with a 1-9 overall record with its lone win coming against Hampton on November 25.
The Sharks are on a four-game skid, most recently falling to Manhattan 66-55 on December 21. LIU faced nationally ranked Virginia Tech (No. 15) on December 6.
Ashley Austin paces the Sharks as the lone player averaging double-digits at 14.7ppg. Austin Previously played at Cal State Bakersfield (2018-20) and Texas Southern (2021-22) and earned All-NEC third-team last season for the Sharks.
Next Up
NJIT will begin America East Conference action on Saturday, January 6, 2024 at 2pm.
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
