NEWARK, NJ–Senior Day was a victorious one for the NJIT seniors as the Highlanders had six players reach double-figures to lead a balanced scoring in Saturday's #AEHoops home win over UMBC, 83-65, inside the Joel and Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center.
In pregame ceremonies, NJIT women's basketball honored its four graduating seniors – Enya Maguire, Aria Myers, Trinity Williams and Reese Vaughan.
NJIT, which shot 53.1 percent from the field for the game, improved to 11-16 overall, 8-6 in the America East while UMBC moved to 14-12 overall, 7-7 in the league. The Highlanders who sit tied for third with Maine have won the last four out of five games. The eight wins in the America East are the second most wins since joining the league in July 2020 (9 win in 2021-22).
Leading the balanced attack was senior Trinity Williams who scored 15 points on 7-of-13 from the field followed by Alejandra Zuniga (14), Marissa Gingrich (13), Olivia Kulyk (12), Enya Maguire (10) and Madilyn Dogs (10).
Kulyk paced NJIT on the board with seven rebounds while Williams, Maguire and Gingrich each grabbed three rebounds. As a team, NJIT combined for 18 assists led by Zuniga and Maguire, who dished out six and five assists respectively.
UMBC jumped out to a quick 8-5 run but NJIT responded with a 9-2 spurt for a 14-10 lead at the 4:17 mark and closed the first 10 minutes on a 5-1 spurt for a 21-15 lead.
NJIT's Alejandra Zuniga scored five straight points to start the second quarter to extend the Highlanders lead to nine, 26-17, at the 8:12 mark. UMBC closed the Highlander gap on a 10-5 run, pulling within four of the home team, 31-27, at the 5:09 mark. The Highlanders went on a 7-3 spurt to close out the half for an eight-point lead, 38-30.
Trinity Williams led NJIT with 11 points followed by Alejandra Zuniga with 10 points. Marissa Gingrich added eight points on 3-of-5 shooting from the field.
The Highlanders used a 9-2 run over the first 3:03 in the third quarter capped by a three-pointer from the top of the arc by Olivia Kulyk for an eight-point lead, 49-37, at the 6:16 mark. Trinity Williams put the home team up by double-digits 10, 51-41, and NJIT went on a 11-2 run over 4:23 (7-0 over 2:47) capped on a put back by Allison Cannon for a 60-42 lead.
UMBC scored the first five points of the fourth quarter but the Highlanders responded on a 6-2 spurt to put NJIT up, 15, 66-51 at the 7:30 mark on a layup by Marissa Gingrich. NJIT stayed in control the remainder of the contest, taking its biggest lead of the game, 23, 78-55, on a layup by Enya Maguire.
Next Up
NJIT will conclude the America East Conference regular season on the road visiting the top two teams in the conference – Vermont (Feb. 27 at 6pm) and UAlbany (Mar. 1 @ 7pm).
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