NEWARK, NJ–The NJIT women's basketball team will close out a three-game America East Conference road swing on Thursday when the Highlanders visit Bryant.

Game Information
The game is slated to start at 6pm inside Chace Athletic Center with in-game statistics available on BryantBulldogs.com.  The game will be streamed live on ESPN+.

All-Time Series
Bryant leads the all-time series, 3-1.  The lone win for the Highlanders over the Bulldogs came in overtime on January 18, 2023, 71-67, as NJIT rallied back from down by as many as 18 points.

NJIT Notes
–NJIT finished the non-conference slate above .500 with an 8-5 mark for the first time in the NJIT Division I era (first season competing against a Division I schedule – 2006-07). 
–The Highlanders are in search of its first win in 2024 and in America East Conference action, dropping its last five contests.
–NJIT led by 2023 America East Conference Rookie of the Year Alejandra Zuniga, is averaging 15.1ppg, which ranks six in the league.
–Trinity Williams tops the America East in blocked shots, averaging 1.7bpg.  As a team, NJIT is ranked 19th nationally in blocks per game (5.2).  Williams paces the Highlanders on the boards with 6.6rpg while adding 9.2ppg.

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.

Scouting Bryant
–Bryant enters Thursday's game with an even 9-9 overall mark and 2-3 record in the America East, recently dropping a 64-62 decision against UAlbany, who sits atop the league at 5-0.
–Mariona Planes Fortuny paces Bryant, averaging 16.1ppg followed by teammate Mia Mancini at 14.9ppg.  Mancini has been named America East Conference Rookie of the Week five times this season.
–The Bulldogs are 6-3 at home and picked up wins in the league over New Hampshire and Binghamton this season.
–Lynne-Ann Kokoski, in her first season, returns to her alma mater after spending 11 seasons at UMass, William & Mary and Providence.  Most recently Kokoski spent four seasons at UMass helping the Minutewomen advance to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1998.

Next Up
NJIT will return back to Newark and play a pair of games inside the Joel and Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center.  NJIT will host UMBC on Saturday at 3pm and Binghamton on February 1 at 7pm.

Stay Connected
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