BROOKLYN, NY—Five players scored in double-figures led by a team-best 20 points from rising junior Alejandra Zuniga as the Highlanders registered an 89-60 road victory over LIU to close out the 2024 slate.
NJIT, which scored a season-best 89 points, snapped an eight-game skid and got back into the win column moving to 3-10 while LIU dropped to 3-10.
The Highlanders exploded for 33 first quarter points and led 47-31 at the half. LIU outscored NJIT by two points in the third quarter, 18-16 but the Highlanders rallied in the fourth quarter, pouring in 26 points, securing the road victory with an 89-60 victory.
In addition to Zuniga's game-best 20 points, Marissa Gingrich scored a career-best 14 points, followed by Madilyn Dogs with 12 points while Olivia Kulyk and Aria Myers each chipped in 10 points.
Gingrich and Kulyk shared game-high honors while posting a new career best for the two Highlanders with seven rebounds apiece as the Highlanders edged the Sharks 40-to-36 on the boards.
As a team, NJIT dished out a season-high 21 assists while Zuniga set a new personal-best with seven assists. For the game, NJIT finished the game shooting 57.4 percent from the field (35-61), 44.4 percent from three-point range (12-17) and 77.8 percent from the free throw line (7-9).
LIU's Sirviva Legions led all players with 24 points on 10-of-16 shooting from the field.
NJIT got off to a hot start scoring 16 straight points for a 16-0 lead in the opening four minutes. The Highlanders finished the first 10 minutes shooting 68.4% from the field (13-for-19) and 75% from three-point range (6-for-8) led by Alejandra Zuniga with nine points on 4-of-6 from the field. Eight of NJIT's nine players scored at least two points and led 33-12 at the end of the first 10 minutes.
LIU used a12-2 start to the second quarter, resulting in an NJIT timeout after two minutes with the Sharks slimming the Highlanders lead to 12, 34-22. In the final 4:14 of the first half, NJIT went on a 12-4 spurt to remain ahead by double-figures, 47-31, paced by Marissa Gingrich and Alejandra Zuniga's game-best 12 points.
As a team in the first half, NJIT shot 60 percent from the field (18-for-30) and 53.8 percent from three-point range (7-for-13).
NJIT continued its momentum in the third quarter and went on a 12-4 run midway through the quarter, extending the Highlanders advantage to 61-39 with 4:13 left on the clock. Over the final two minutes, LIU closed out the period with a 10-2 run.
The Highlanders leading 63-49 to begin the fourth quarter pushed its lead to 20+ in the middle of the period, closing out the game on a 18-6 spurt to secure the road victory.
Next Up
NJIT will open America East Conference action on January 2, hosting Binghamton at 6pm.
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