DOVER, DE–Four players netted double-figures for NJIT and the Highlanders scored 48 second-half points in a 75-62 road victory at Delaware State Monday afternoon in the final non-conference game of the 2025 season inside Memorial Gymnasium.
NJIT improved to 9-4 on the season while Delaware State fell to 3-12 on the year. The nine wins in non-conference action are the most wins in the NJIT Division I women's basketball era.
Leading the NJIT offense was Marissa Gingrich and Alejandra Zuniga with 17 points followed by Olivia Kulyk (13) and Allison Cannon (12).
Kulyk finished the game with a double-double pulling down 10 rebounds, her first of the season. Gingrich went 7-for-11 with eight rebounds and four assists while Zuniga added six rebounds.
Both teams traded points to open the first quarter heading into the first media timeout with the Highlanders pulling within one-point lead, 13-12, on a three-pointer in the corner by Marissa Gingrich at the 4:29 mark. The Hornets scored the final four points of the period to go ahead by three, 17-14.
Delaware State continued to stay in control to begin the second quarter, increasing its lead to 11 points, 25-14, behind a 12-0 run over the last 8:23. Mackenzie Wright-Rawls put the Highlanders on the board in the second period on a fast break layup at the 5:16 mark. NJIT went on an 8-2 spurt, cutting the Hornets lead to five, 29-24, on a layup by Alejandra Zuniga at the 2:43. Delaware State closed out the first half on a 6-2 run for a 35-27 lead.
Gingrich and Allison led the Highlanders with eight points while Lilianna Harrison paced all players with 10 points.
NJIT scored eight straight to start the third quarter, knotting the score at 35-all on a three-point play by Alejandra Zuniga at the 8:07 mark and the Highlanders used a 15-6 spurt into the under-five media timeout to take a one-point lead, 42-41. NJIT closed out the final 1:30 on a 5-2 run for a 51-48 lead. For the quarter, NJIT outscored the Hornets 24-13.
The Highlanders went ahead by two, 57-55, in the fourth quarter on a three-pointer by Kulyk at the 5:48 mark, resulting in a Delaware State timeout. NJIT scored nine straight to extend its lead to nine, 64-57, at the 4:20 mark on a put back jumper by Olivia Kulyk. After a bucket by Delaware State, Kulyk knocked down a three-pointer from the top of the key which sparked nine consecutive points for the Highlanders, securing the 75-62 road victory.
Next Up
NJIT will kick off the New Year in America East Conference action, visiting UMBC on January 1 at 6pm on ESPN+.
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