Post Game Comments with Head Coach Mike Lane
NEW YORK, NY–The NJIT women's basketball team started the 2025 season 2-0 led by sophomore Olivia Kulyk's career-best 25 points in the Highlanders 82-78 road victory at Fordham Friday evening in women's basketball non-conference action at Rose Hill Gymnasium.
Kulyk, the reigning America East Conference Rookie of the Year, caught fire in the second quarter, scoring 12 points and finished the game with a new personal-best 25 points. Kulyk finished the game 10-for-12 from the field and 5-of-6 from three-point range and pulled down six rebounds.
Junior Marissa Gingrich scored a new personal-best 16 points, grabbed six rebounds, dished out five assists and combined for three steals.
The Highlanders other double-figure scorer on the night was senior Alejandra Zuniga who finished with 12 points, seven assists and six rebounds.
NJIT took an early 5-2 lead in the opening minutes as Fordham rallied to push ahead by four, 14-10, at the 3:05 mark. Madilyn Dogs sparked a 6-2 spurt for NJIT to knot the game at 16-all with less than a minute to play in the first quarter.
The Highlanders took control of the second quarter outscoring Fordham, 26-10, shooting 11-for-17 from the field (64.7%) and 4-of-7 from downtown (57.1%). Olivia Kulyk scored all 12 points in the second quarter.
After the first 20 minutes, NJIT led by 14 at the half paced by Kulyk's 12 points followed by Marissa Gingrich (11).
Fordham used a 9-2 run over a span of 2:53 to cut the Highlander deficit to 11, 48-39, at the 5:54 mark of the third quarter, resulting in a timeout by NJIT. A layup by Kyleigh Welsh started a 7-3 run to extend the Highlander lead to 55-43 with 3:09 on the clock. Fordham went on an 8-2 run to close out the period, cutting the Highlanders lead to six, 57-51.
The Rams continued its momentum into the fourth quarter pulling within three of the Highlanders, 59-56, at the eight minute mark. NJIT scored 11 straight points (nine from downtown) to increase its lead to 70-58 at the 7:11 mark.
Late in the fourth, over a span of 3:30, Fordham rallied back and scored 10 unanswered to cut the Highlander deficit to one, 75-74, with 1:23 on the clock. NJIT scored seven straight from the free throw line to go up by eight, 82-74.
Fordham did not back down in the final seconds, scoring four points in five seconds but the visiting Highlanders held on for the 82-78 road win.
As a team, NJIT out-rebounded Fordham, 37-to-34 and shot 50.8% from the field (32-for-63)
Next Up
NJIT will host its home opener on Tuesday, November 11 at 6pm when the Highlanders welcome Wagner to the Joel and Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center.
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