| Game 14 |
NJIT (8-5, 0-0 AE) at UAlbany (12-2, 1-0 AE) |
| Date | Time |
Saturday, January 6, 2024 | 2pm |
| Location | Arena |
UAlbany, NY | Broadview Center |
| Live Video |
ESPN+ |
| Live Stats |
In-game stats (free) |
| Game Notes |
NJIT Notes | UA Notes |
NEWARK, NJ–The NJIT women's basketball team will open the 2024 #AEHoops season on Saturday, January 6 at UAlbany.
Game Information
Tip off is slated for 2pm inside Broadview Center and will be streamed live on ESPN+ with in-game statistics available on UAlbanySports.com.
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.
NET Rating
UAlbany currently leads all #AEHoops programs with a NET rating of 121, followed by Maine (135) and Vermont (170) in the top 200. New Hampshire (268), NJIT (270), Binghamton (274) and Bryant (292) are all in the top 300.
All-Time Series
UAlbany leads the all-time series, 7-1.
The Great Danes have won the last seven meetings with NJIT taking the first all-time meeting which dates back to 2008, when the Highlanders came out on top, 58-47, in Albany, NY.
Last Time Out
LIU outscored NJIT 20-9 in the fourth quarter but the Highlanders held off the visiting Sharks led by Trinity Williams' 15 points, nine rebounds and three blocks to pick up a 58-54 home victory for NJIT in the non-conference finale in 2023 on New Year's Eve inside the Joel and Bloom Wellness and Events Center.
Win No. 50 at NJIT for Head Coach Mike Lane
The victory over LIU was win #50 for head coach Mike Lane since taking over the reins at NJIT in 2018-19.
The Fast Lane
The upward progression under 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: 8-5, 0-0 AE (AE begins Jan. 6 at UAlbany)
Highlanders Finished Non-Conference Slate with a Winning Record at 8-5
The Highlanders 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).
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 1,281 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 15.3ppg and has scored in double-digits in all 13 games this season, including three 20-point contests (season-high 23 at Army). Zuniga ranks fifth in the America East in scoring.
Block Party
NJIT currently ranks 15th in the nation with 5.7 blocks per game. NJIT is led by Trinity Williams who is blocking a league-best 1.8 shots per game, followed by freshman Madilyn Dogs at 1.2 blocks per contest.
Williams On the Glass
Williams has anchored the team with 6.7 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game while scoring 10.3 points per game.
Four Teams Reaching Postseason in 2023 on the Highlanders 2023 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.
Scouting UAlbany
UAlbany has a league-best 12-2 record this season and has won eight straight games. They've won each of those eight games by at least ten points, including the last three by 20+ points in 2023.
The Great Danes have been shooting the lights out from deep, ranking sixth in the nation by shooting 39.8 percent from beyond the arc. The team is led by transfer Meghan Huerter, who is sixth individually in the country, shooting 32-for-64 (50%) from downtown.
UAlbany is led by Kayla Cooper who is averaging 15.3ppg, 7.1rpg and 1.9spg. Helene Haegerstrand is also in double figures at 10.2ppg, while freshman Deja Evans is putting up 8.9ppg and 7.4rpg. Freshman Deja Evans, the reigning America East Conference Player and Rookie of the Week is a staple on defense with 16 blocks.
The Great Danes went undefeated at home in December and opened up America East action 1-0 with a win over Bryant, 69-48, on Thursday, January 4. Cooper led three double-figure scorers with 18 points on 9-of-16 shooting from the field with four rebounds. Evans netted 12 points and six rebounds.
Next Up
NJIT will play two straight at home, welcoming UMass Lowell on January 11am on Education Dat and Vermont on Saturday, January 13 at 1pm. Both games will be produced on ESPN+.
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
