VIDEO: Post Game Interview w/ head coach Mike Lane and junior guard Marissa Gingrich
VIDEO: Post Game Wrap w/ ESPN+ Drew Casey and Assistant Coach Kelly Guarino
NEWARK, NJ–The NJIT women's basketball team had four players in double-digits led by junior guard
Marissa Gingrich's career-best 23 points as the Highlanders picked up a 78-58 victory over visiting Wagner Tuesday evening in the home opener for the Highlanders inside the Joel and Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center.
With the win, NJIT begins the 2025 campaign 3-0 which marks the best start in program history.
In addition to Gingrich's 23 points, Olivia Kulyk scored 20 points, Madilyn Dogs (12) and Allison Cannon (10).
Gingrich, the 5-foot-7 guard, led the Highlanders with seven rebounds and dished out three assists while shooting 10-for-15 from the field. Kulyk went 7-for-14 from the field and finished 6-of-9 from downtown. Cannon came off the bench and chipped in 10 points on 5-of-8 shooting, pulling down five rebounds in 23 minutes.
NJIT scored the first four points of the game and extended its lead to 12-5 after an old-fashioned three-point play by Madilyn Dogs. NJIT went on a 6-0 run midway through the first quarter and pushed its lead to nine, 18-9, at the 3:12 mark. Wagner closed the Highlanders gap on an 8-3 spurt to cut the deficit to four, 21-17.
In the second quarter, after a layup by Mia Gestosani at the four minute mark, the Highlanders went ahead by five, 27-22. Wagner scored six consecutive points for its first lead of the game, 28-27, with less than three minutes to play. NJIT scored the final five points of the first half to take a four-point advantage at the half, 32-28.
NJIT took a six-point lead, 38-32, in the opening minutes of the third quarter but Wagner scored the next four points to pull within two, 38-36, at the 6:53 mark. The Highlanders went on a 12-3 spurt over a span of 3:30 to extend the Highlander lead to 13, 55-42, at the 1:44 mark.
The Highlanders continued its momentum into the fourth quarter, scoring the first six points of the quarter to extend its lead to as many as 15, 61-46, and went on to outscore the Seahawks 22-12.
Next Up
NJIT will make a trip to Minnesota (Nov. 14) and first-time opponent St. Thomas (Nov. 16). Minnesota won the 2025 WBIT and finished the season with 25 wins. The last time the two teams met was on December 28, 2015.
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.
