FORT MYERS, FL–FGCU topped visiting NJIT, 73-53, in women's basketball non-conference action Sunday afternoon inside Alico Arena.
FGCU, the defending ASUN Conference Champion, recorded its first win of the season, improving to 1-2 on the season while the Highlanders move to 2-3 on the season.
Graduate student Aria Myers shared game-high honors, netting 16 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the field and 4-for-5 from three-point range to go along with three rebounds.
Trinity Williams came off the bench and chipped in nine points and six rebounds in 16 minutes of action. Freshman Allison Cannon scored eight points on 4-of-6 shooting from the field followed by Mackenzie Wright-Rawls and Alejandra Zuniga who each added five points.
Leading the Highlanders on the glass was freshman Olivia O'Meally with a career-best nine rebounds while adding three points and two steals.
The Eagles were led by four players in double-figures–Lauryn Taylor, who combined for a double-double 16 points and 10 rebounds, Emani Jefferson (15), Maddie Antenucci (13) and Khamari Mitchell-Steen (11).
Dolly Cairns led all players with 15 boards as FGCU held a slight advantage on the glass, 39-to-32.
FGCU took an early 7-2 lead to open the game but NJIT answered with a 6-2 spurt to pull within one of the Eagles, 9-8, after an old-fashioned three-point play by Trinity Williams at the 6:50 mark. The Eagles scored seven consecutive points over 1:22 to extend its lead to double-digits, 10, 22-12. Williams brought the Eagles lead back down to double-figures on a bucket low, but the Eagles would close out the period on a 6-0 run for a 28-14 advantage.
The Eagles scored 10 straight, increasing its lead to as many as 16, 35-19, at the under five media timeout. NJIT went on a short 5-0 spurt capped by a three-pointer in the corner by Aria Myers, slimming the Eagles lead to as many as 13, 37-24, resulting in an FGCU timeout. Sparked by a three-pointer by Aria Myers at the 3:37 mark, NJIT went on a 5-1 spurt to cut the Eagles deficit to 12, 38-26.
Williams led the Highlanders with nine points on 4-of-7 shooting from the field to go along with four rebounds while Aria Myers and Alejandra Zuniga each chipped in five points. Olivia O'Meally grabbed three rebounds in four minutes off the bench.
The home team scored the first eight out of 10 points in the opening five minutes of the third quarter, extending its lead to 20, 50-30, with 4:45 on the clock. NJIT scored three consecutive three-pointers late in the third quarter, a pair from Aria Myers and Olivia O'Meally, slimming the Eagles lead to 11, 52-41, with 2:20 on the clock. FGCU quickly caught fire, using a 8-0 run to close out the quarter ahead 60-41.
NJIT's Aria Myers scored five straight points late in the fourth quarter on a pair of free throws capped by a pull-up three pointer with 2:26 on the clock for a 71-53 but that's the closest the Highlanders would come to the Eagles. FGCU registered its first win of the season with a 73-53 home victory.
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+.
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