| Game 20 |
UAlbany Great Danes (16-4, 6-1 AE) at NJIT Highlanders (6-13, 3-3 America East) |
| Date | Time |
Saturday, January 25, 2024 | 1pm |
| Location |
Newark, NJ | Joe and Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center |
| Live Video |
ESPN+ (Nick DeLuca (PxP); Ralph Bednarczyk (Color) |
| Game Notes |
NJIT Notes | UAlbany Notes |
| Rosters |
NJIT Roster | UAlbany Roster |
| Follow |
X/Twitter | Instagram | Live Stats |
NEWARK, NJ–The NJIT women's basketball team is set to host a pair of America East Conference games this week, first welcoming Vermont on Thursday, January 23 and UAlbany on Saturday, January 25 at 1pm.
Game Information
Vs. Vermont … The game vs. Vermont will tip off at 6pm inside the Joel and Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center with in-game statistics available on NJITHighlanders.com.
Vs. UAlbany … The game vs. Vermont will tip off at 1pm inside the Joel and Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center with in-game statistics available on NJITHighlanders.com.
All-Time Series
Vs. Vermont … Vermont leads the all-time series, 11-2. The Catamounts have won the last seven meetings between the two teams.
Vs. UAlbany…UAlbany leads the all-time series, 10-1. The Great Danes have won the last 10 straight. In the first all-time meeting which dates back to 2008, NJIT defeated UAlbany 58-47 marking the first time NJIT defeated the Great Danes.
1,000 Career Points and Counting
Rising junior Alejandra Zuniga became the 13th Highlander to score 1,000 career points after a tough driving right-handed layup with 2:38 left in the game against Monmouth on December 9, 2024. Zuniga, who cracked the top-9 all-time stands at 1,123 points, which ranks nine all-time in program history.
Highlander Highlights
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The Highlanders four-game win streak was snapped at Maine on January 16. NJIT has won four in a row (at LIU, 12/30/24), (vs. Binghamton, 1/2/25) on the road at UMBC (1/9/25) and at home against (UMass Lowell; 1/11/25). The last time NJIT won four straight dates back to 2021-22 when the Highlanders won a stretch of five straight. NJIT had started 3-0 in America East action for the first time since the 2021-22 season.
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The Highlanders closed out 2024 with a win over LIU, 89-60, led by five players reaching double-figures.
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NJIT concluded its non-conference slate 3-10, dropping six games by five or less points this season, including a one-point overtime loss Hostra (L, 69-74), Army West Point (L, 68-69 (OT)), Lafayette (L, 69-71), Saint Peter's (L, 60-65), Coppin State (L, 61-63) and Wagner (W, 62-60).
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The Highlanders secured its first win of the season at Saint Francis U, an 80-60 road victory. The 80 points are the most scored by the Highlanders this season.
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Alejandra Zuniga is averaging 18.1ppg and 2.8rpg while shooting 47.1% from the field. She has scored 20+ points or more in nine games this season, including a season-best 26 at Rutgers. Zuniga ranks first in the conference in scoring and third in assists.
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Freshman Olivia Kulyk has been named America East Rookie of the Week five times and Player of the Week once this season. She is averaging 11.5ppg and 4.8rpg. In the America East, Kulyk ranks in the top 12 in scoring (10.5), tops the league in three-point three-point field goals made (2.3) and third in three-point field goal percentage (41.5)
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After missing the month of December due to injury, the Highlanders welcomed back senior forward Trinity Williams against Binghamton. Williams finished the game with eight points, four rebounds on 4-of-5 from the field in 23 minutes. Williams followed up with a 21-point, six rebound and two blocks performance at UMBC in NJIT's first road victory in league action.
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As a team, NJIT ranks first in the America East in scoring (67.5 ppg), blocked shots (4.11 bpg) and second in three-point field goals made (8.1 pg).
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Head Coach Mike Lane is in his seventh season at the helm of the Highlanders. NJIT went 12-18 overall, 4-12 in the America East and advanced to the America East Postseason Tournament for the fourth straight time.
Scouting Vermont
Vermont, which sits in second in the America East Conference standings entering Thursday's contest, stands with a 9-10 overall record, 4-1 in the America East and winners of the last four games.
The Catamounts win streak began in 2025 with wins over New Hampshire, UMass Lowell, Bryant and most recently Binghamton.
Leading the way for Vermont is Anna Olson who is the lone Catamount who is averaging double-digits (14.2) while guard Bella Vito paces the Catamounts in rebounding (6.4rpg) and 41 steals.
Olson ranks fourth in the America East in scoring while Vito ranks fifth in rebounding and second in steals.
Scouting UAlbany
UAlbany, winners of six straight, will visit UMBC on January 23 before making its way up to NJIT on Saturday at 1pm.
The Great Danes, who sit at the top of the America East standing with a 6-0 perfect mark, are 16-3 overall with a trio of losses coming against Siena, Wisconsin and #6 LSU.
Two Great Danes are averaging double-digits paced by Kayla Cooper (17.3ppg) followed by Kaci Donovan (12.2ppg). Cooper paces the team on the boards at 7.2rpg while Gabriela Falcao ranks first on the team in blocks with 24.
Falcao leads the America East in blocks , Cooper ranks third in scoring behind Zuniga and fourth in rebounding.
Next Up
NJIT will hit the road and play a pair of games on the road in the America East, visiting UMass Lowell on January 30 at 11am, Education Day and February 1 at Bryant at 2pm.
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.
