NEWARK, NJ–NJIT will make a trip down south to defending ASUN Conference Champions Florida Gulf Coast on November 17.
Game Information
Tip off is slated for 1pm inside the Alico Center. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ with in-game statistics available on FGCUAthletics.com.
All-Time Series
This will mark the 23rd all-time meeting against the Eagles. NJIT is still in search of its first win over FGCU.
Last Time Out
Three Highlanders recorded double-figures led by junior Alejandra Zuniga's team-best 14 points as NJIT cruised past Sacred Heart, 73-52, Wednesday evening in women's basketball non-conference action inside the Joel and Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center.
Zuniga, who scored double-digits for the fourth time this season, leading the Highlanders with 14 points was followed by graduate student Enya Maguire (12pts) and freshman Allison Cannon (12pts).
The 12 points for Maguire, who played four seasons at Houston Christian, filled up the boxscore, grabbing five rebounds, five steals and three assists. Cannon, who tied her personal-best mark (also 12 points at Rutgers), shot 4-for-5 from the field, three rebounds and two assists.
NJIT's Madilyn Dogs led all players, pulling down nine rebounds while Marissa Gingrich added six as the Highlanders edged Sacred Heart, 47-to-46.
Season Opening Victories
For the third consecutive season, NJIT has won their season opener.
11.4.24 | NJIT 80, SFU 60
11.6.23 | NJIT 73, Army West Point 57
11.7/22 | NJIT 68, Rider 60
America East Rookie of the Week - Olivia Kulyk (11.11.24)
Olivia Kulyk has been selected America East Conference Women's Basketball Rookie of the Week, the league office announced on Monday.
Kulyk, the Highlanders freshman from Edinboro, PA, averaged 11.3ppg and 4.7rpg.
The 6-foot-1 guard made her first collegiate start of her young career in a Highlander uniform in NJIT's 80-60 season-opening victory at Saint Francis U. She finished with 10 points, 3-for-6 from three-point range to go along with two rebounds.
Kulyk posted a career-high 13 points in NJIT's home opener against Hofstra while pulling down six rebounds.
On Sunday against Big Ten opponent Rutgers, Kulyk chipped in 11 points and grabbed six rebounds.
This is Kulyk's first career America East Rookie of the Week honor.
News & Notes
–Two of the top three scorers return from a year ago – Alejandra Zuniga (14.7 ppg) and Trinity Williams (9.0 ppg).
–Rising junior Zuniga will enter her junior campaign with 798 career points, 133 assists, 76 three-point field goals and 68 steals. In 2022-23, she was selected as the America East Rookie of the Year, named to the America East Third Team and All-Rookie team.
–Forward Trinity Williams has played in 80 career games with 55 games starting, as she enters her senior season. She averaged 9.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg.
–Head Coach Mike Lane enters his seventh season at the helm of the Highlanders.
–The Highlanders add six newcomers – five freshmen and one graduate student.
–NJIT competed in the ASUN Conference for five seasons (first season 2015-16) before the Highlanders joined the America East in July 2020.
Chasing 1,000 Career Points - Alejandra Zuniga
The rising junior Zuniga enters Sunday's contest with 882 career points, 118 away from scoring her 1,000 career point. As a freshman, the 2023 America East Rookie of the Year combined for 358 points and last year she followed up with 440 career points. Four games into the 2024-25 season, Zuniga has registered 84 points.
Returning Starters
Alejandra Zuniga, G – 14.7 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.9 apg
Trinity Williams, F – 9.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.6 bpg
Aria Myers, G – 4.7 ppg, 3.0 rpg
Madilyn Dogs, G – 3.7 ppg, 5.0rpg
Scouting FGCU
FGCU, the defending ASUN Conference Champions, enter Sunday's matchup in search of its first win of the 2024 season after dropping a pair of contests against Davidson and Columbia.
The Eagles began the 2024-25 season ranked No. 2 in the CollegeInsider.com's Mid-Major Poll.
FGCU is coming off a 29-5 record, a perfect 16-0 campaign in the ASUN and their seventh consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament. The Eagles won each regular season conference game last season by double digits, recorded a home Power Four win over Kentucky, defeated No. 18 North Carolina on a neutral court and received votes in the AP Poll.
The Eagles secured their eighth consecutive ASUN Conference Tournament title to earn a 12-seed in the March Madness field.
FGCU is the winningest 12th seed in NCAA Tournament history and took fifth-seeded Oklahoma to the wire, but ultimately fell 73-70 in Bloomington, Indiana.
The Eagles return ASUN Player, Newcomer and Defensive Player of the Year in Emani Jefferson, while adding former two-time ASUN Defensive Player of the Year in Skyler Gill.
Karl Smesko has announced he is stepping down as head women's basketball coach of the Eagles to take the head coaching job for the Atlanta Dream of the WNBA.
Chelsea Lyles has been named the second head coach in Florida Gulf Coast University women's basketball program history.
Lyles began her coaching career as a student assistant in 2010-11. After a one-year stint in that role, she officially joined the staff as an assistant coach in 2011, serving until being named the recruiting coordinator in the summer of 2014. She was promoted to associate head coach under Smesko in 2019. Lyles entered the 2023-24 season in her sixth year as an associate head coach with a 148-20 record.
Next Up
NJIT will play the next two out of three games at home before closing out the month of November. The Highlanders will host Army West Point on November 20 at 6pm with the game 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.
