NEWARK, NJ–The NJIT women's basketball team will play its next four straight at home, beginning with a mid-week contest on Wednesday against Saint Peter's.

Game Information 
Tip off is slated for 6pm inside the Joel and Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center on ESPN+ with in-game statistics available on NJITHighlanders.com.

Quick Hits
–The 4-1 start for NJIT in the best start since the 2023-24 season, NJIT started out the year 4-1 with its lone coming against No. 10 ranked Norte Dame.
–NJIT started the 2025 season 3-0 for the first time in program history.
–The three wins came at Sacred Heart and Fordham and home opening victory against Wagner
--In the last four seasons, NJIT has won the season opener and started 1-0.

A win on Wednesday….
–NJIT will be 5-1 for the first time in program history. 

All-Time Series
The all-time series is tied at 6-6.

NJIT has won the last three out of four contests against Saint Peter's.  Last season, the Peacocks defeated the Highlanders, 65-60, on December 1, 2024 in Jersey City.

The last four:
12/1/24 | Saint Peter's 65, NJIT 60
12/12/23 | NJIT 66, Saint Peter's 47
12//10/22 | NJIT 42, Saint Peter's 38
11/27/21 | NJIT 67, Saint Peter's 61

Highlanders News & Notes
–Senior Alejandra Zuniga was selected to the America East Preseason All-Conference team.   Last season, Zuniga was picked to the America East first team, as a sophomore she was named to the second team and during her freshman campaign, Zuniga earned America East Rookie of the Year, America East Third team, America East All-Rookie team honors. She is coming off a season which saw the Highlanders guard ranked third in the league in scoring (16.0ppg), third in assists (3.4), fifth in free throw percentage (65.0%) and fifth in field goal percentage (44.0%).
–The 2025 America East Rookie of the Year, Olivia Kulyk is back for her second season in a Highlander uniform after a strong freshman campaign which saw her be named a 10-time America East Rookie of the Week selection, which ties the America East Conference record, has scored in double-figures in 19 contests, including a career-best 21 points and 12 rebounds against Binghamton on January 2, 2025. She ranked second in the league in three-point field goals per game (1.9) and 13th in the conference in scoring (9.7).
–NJIT returns 11 from a season ago after a fifth-place finish in the America East standings with an 11-19 overall mark, 8-8 in the league.  The 11 wins were the fourth straight double-digit win for the Highlanders in the last four years.
–Head Coach Mike Lane enters his eighth season at the helm of the Highlanders.

Returning Starters
Alejandra Zuniga, G – 16.0 ppg, 2.7 rpg
Olivia Kulyk, G – 9.7ppg, 4.6rpg, .38.8 % 3PT
Marissa Gingrich, G – 6.1ppg, 3.6rpg
Madilyn Dogs, G – 4.5 ppg, 4.1rpg

Making a Name in the Record Books
Zuniga, from Madrid, Spain, is a three-time America East Conference All-Conference selection, and has scored 1,314 career points which ranks her third in the Division I era at NJIT and fifth all-time.  The all-time leading scorer at NJIT is Jessica Gerald (2007-11) with 1,504 career points.

New Career-High for Olivia Kulyk
The reigning America East Conference Rookie of the Year Kulyk set a new personal-best mark at Fordham from the Atlantic 10, netting 25 points on 5-of-6 shooting from downtown in the Highlanders 82-78 road victory on November 7, 2025.

Rising Junior Marissa Gingrich
Through the first five games, Gingrich has scored in double-digits in four out of five contests, including a career-best 23 points at home vs. Wagner (11.11.25).  She has combined for at least one rebound in all five games, including a career-best seven rebounds vs. Wagner (11.11.25).

In the first two games, Gingrich, the Highlanders point guard has scored in double-digits (13 at Sacred Heart) and (16 at Fordham) a new career-best for the guard from Mifflin, PA.  She has combined for back-to-back games with six rebounds and dished out five assists at Fordham.

New Kids on the Block
NJIT added four newcomers to the 2025-26 roster with three freshmen and one transfer. Mia Gestosani hails from Somerset, NJ, Addison Shen from Concord, MA, Lauren Lee from New Port Richey, FL and Ava Locklear a transfer from Tiffin, IA. 

America East Conference
NJIT will begin its sixth season in the America East and will play a schedule of 16 conference games against the other eight schools.  The Highlanders became the 10th full member of the America East on July 1, 2020 and were selected to finish eighth in the 2024-25 preseason coaches poll.

The Highlanders, which made its fifth consecutive appearance in the 2025 America East postseason tournament, concluded its season with a 11-19 overall mark and 8-18 in the America East.

Fans will once again be able to watch every #AEHoops home game on The AE on ESPN with all games airing on ESPN+ or ESPN3 domestically and AmericaEast.TV internationally.

Scouting Saint Peter's
Saint Peter's, still in search of its first win of the 2025 campaign enters the contest with an 0-3 mark with losses against Seton Hall, Fordham and Lafayette.

Sophomore De'Naya Rippey paces the Peacocks averaging a double-double (17.7ppg) and (10.7rpg).  Rippey has scored in double-figures in all three games, including a pair of double-doubles.

Next Up
NJIT will continue its home stretch and host Drexel (Nov. 22) a 17-win team from a year ago, welcome defending Northeast Champions FDU (Nov. 25) and after the Thanksgiving Holiday, host Lafayette (Nov. 30).

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.