Post Game Interview with ESPN+ Ryan Peters and Head Coach Mike Lane

NJIT Highlights vs. Hofstra

Post Game Show with ESPN+ Matt Provence and Head Coach Mike Lane

​NEWARK, NJ–Visiting Hofstra down by as many as 12 in the second half came from behind to top NJIT, 74-69, in the home opener for the Highlanders Friday night inside the Joel and Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center.

Both teams moved to 1-1 on the young season.

After the first 10 minutes the game was knotted at 19-all.  NJIT outscored Hofstra in the second quarter, 22-12, to take a 10-point lead at the half, 41-31.  The third quarter saw the Highlanders hold a 12-point lead but the Pride cut the deficit to as many as seven, 57-52.  Hofstra pulled in front of the Highlanders for the first time in the second half at the 4:20 mark and would go on to secure the five-point win, 74-69.

NJIT junior Alejandra Zuniga led all scorers with 24 points followed by freshman Olivia Kulyk who netted a new personal-best 13 points while graduate student Enya Maguire chipped in 10 points.

Senior forward Trinity Williams led the Highlanders on the glass, pulling down 10 rebounds followed by Kulyk with six.

Hofstra had four players reach double-figures led by Chloe Sterling (21), LaNae Corbett (15), Zyheima Swint (13) and Emma Von Essen (12).  Swint led all players with 13 boards as the Pride edged the Highlanders 44-to-36 on the glass.

NJIT took an early 6-2 lead but Hofstra followed with an 8-0 run to take a 10-6 advantage.  The Highlanders scored five consecutive points, capped by a three-pointer by Enya Maguire with less than three minutes to play for a one-point lead, 11-10.  In the final minute, the score saw three ties the final at 19-all after a buzzer-beater two-pointer for Hofstra.

The Highlanders used an 11-2 lead to increase the NJIT lead to double-digits, 30-20, after a layup by Trinity Williams at the 6:30 mark.  The Pride slimmed the NJIT lead to as many as four, 32-28, at the under-five media timeout.  The Highlanders closed out the first half on a 9-1 spurt in the final 3:30 to head into the locker room up by 10 at the half, 41-31.

Alejandra Zuniga led all scorers with 13 points followed by Enya Magure (seven points) and Trinity Williams, pulling down seven rebounds.

NJIT continued to hold a double-digit lead, 51-39, after a three-pointer in the corner by Olivia Kulyk.  Hofstra worked their way back into the game using a 11-2 spurt over the last 3:30 (9-0 over the last 2:08) to pull within three of the Highlanders, 53-50. NJIT rallied back and went on a 7-2 run to push its lead to seven, 59-52, to end the third quarter.

Hofstra used a 10-2 run to open the fourth quarter and the Pride took its first lead of the second half, 62-61, on a fast break layup by Janaia Fargo at the seven-minute mark.  The Highlanders regained the lead after a pair of free throws by Williams but Hofstra finished off the contest on an 11-4 run to secure the road victory.

Next Up
NJIT will have a quick turnaround and travel down the turnpike and visit Rutgers on Sunday at 2pm.  The game will be streamed live on B1G+.

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