Post Game Interview w/ head coach Mike Lane and Junior Alejandra Zuniga
Post Game Report w/ Assistant Coach Kelly Guarino & ESPN+ Drew Casey
NEWARK, NJ–Four players reached double-figures for NJIT led by junior
Alejandra Zuniga's game-high 21 points as the Highlanders won its third straight with a 64-53 home victory over visiting Bryant Thursday evening in America East Women's Basketball action inside the Joel and Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center.
NJIT, which closed out a three-game homestand with three straight wins and have won the last four out of five games, improved to 10-15 overall, 7-5 in the league, moving into fourth place in the standings. The 10 wins marks the fourth straight season the Highlanders have recorded 10 or more wins. As a team, NJIT dished out 15 assists.
Zuniga, the reigning America East Conference Player of the Week, finished with 21 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the field, 2-of-3 from three-point range to go along with six assists and four rebounds.
Graduate student Enya Maguire scored 14 points (one shy of her personal-best in a Highlander uniform) on 5-of-8 from the field and 4-of-6 from three-point range. The 5-foot-5 guard pulled down five rebounds.
Trinity Williams combined for 12 points on 5-of-8 from the field, five rebounds and one block while Olivia Kulyk chipped in 11 points and three blocks.
Madilyn Dogs grabbed a team-best seven rebounds in the win.
After taking a seven-point lead after the first 10 minutes of action, 16-7, on a three-pointer by Madilyn Dogs at the 3:04 mark the Highlanders held a five-point lead at the end of the first quarter, 16-11.
The game went back and forth in the second quarter with the Highlanders ahead by four on multiple occasions the home team went on a 7-4 spurt to close out the first half sparked by a three-pointer by Alejandra Zuniga as the Highlanders held a seven-point lead, 34-27.
The third quarter, the closest of the four saw the Bulldogs rally back to cut the Highlander deficit to two, 40-38, at the 3:36 mark but NJIT responded with four straight points by reigning America East Rookie of the Week Olivia Kulyk to give NJIT a six-point advantage.
In the fourth period, NJIT started to pull away behind and take its first double-digit lead, 55-44, at the 3:29 mark behind an 11-2 run to extend the Highlanders lead to as many as 11. In the final two minutes of action, NJIT used a 7-3 spurt to secure its third straight victory at home with a 64-53 win.
Next Up
After playing three at home, NJIT will go on the road and visit Binghamton on Saturday 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.