VIDEO: Post Game w/ head coach Mike Lane and ESPN+ Jesse Agel
NEWARK, NJ–Junior
Alejandra Zuniga scored a game-best 26 points in the Highlanders 61-56 home victory over visiting Maine Thursday evening in America East Women's Basketball action inside the Joel and Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center.
NJIT, winners of the last two out of three games, finished Thursday's contest, shooting 45.1 percent from the field and improved to 8-15 overall and 5-5 in the America East and split the regular season series with the Black Bears. Maine moves to 12-11 overall, 7-3 in the America East.
Zuniga, the guard from Madrid, Spain shot 10-for-18 from the field, 4-of-7 from three-point range to go along with five rebounds and four assists in the Highlanders win. Zuniga now sits with 1,164 career points which ranks eighth all-time in program history.
Sophomore Madilyn Dogs scored nine points while Trinity Williams combined for eight points, five rebounds and two blocks. Guards Enya Maguire and Marissa Gingrich chipped in seven points each.
Zuniga and Dogs combined for 14 of NJIT's 18 first quarter points as the Highlanders held a two-point edge, 18-16, after the first 10 minutes capped by a pair of free throws made by Marissa Gingrich with two seconds remaining in the quarter. As a team, NJIT shot 41.2 percent from the field (7-for-17).
The second quarter saw four ties the final at 24-all when the Highlanders went on a 6-2 spurt to close out the first half with a three-point lead, 28-25.
Alejandra Zuniga led all scorers with 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field. Caroline Bornemann paced the Black Bears with 12 points and four rebounds behind a 5-of-8 shooting first half.
The Highlanders used a short 5-0 run midway through the third quarter and took a five-point lead, 35-30, after a three-pointer in the corner by Enya Maguire at the four minute mark. The Black Bears connected on back-to-back three-pointers and went ahead by one, 38-37, at the 1:40 mark. NJIT finished on a 6-2 run for a three-point lead, 43-40.
An 8-2 start for NJIT to begin the fourth period put the Highlanders ahead 51-43 at the 6:34 mark after a layup by Trinity Williams. Maine sank a pair of three-pointers to cut the deficit to three, 51-48, at the 5:30 mark. A bucket underneath by Williams at the 5:13 mark sparked a 7-4 run for NJIT capped by a three-pointer by Alejandra Zuniga with the shot clock winding down in front of the bench to give the Highlanders a seven-point lead, 58-52, with 1:40 left to play.
Maine pulled as close as 59-56 with forty seconds left on the clock but a pair of free throws with less than five seconds left in the game for Maguire sealed the game for the Highlanders, 61-56.
The Black Bears were led by Carolina Bornemann's 22 points, six rebounds and five assists. Caroline Dotsey added 12 points off the bench.
Next Up
NJIT will be back in action on Saturday when the Highlanders host New Hampshire at 4:30pm. The game was originally scheduled for 6pm but was moved as a result of the inclement forecast predicted for the Newark area. Saturday will mark Alumnae Day/Amber Morgan Memorial Game.
Stay Connected
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