VIDEO: A Journey to the Top - Alejandra Zuniga
SMITHFIELD, RI–Senior
Alejandra Zuniga made history on Saturday becoming NJIT's all-time leading scorer in women's basketball history in the Highlanders 78-65 road victory over Bryant in America East Conference women's basketball action inside Chase Athletic Center.
Zuniga, who entered the game with 1,489 points, scored her milestone points in the third quarter at the 4:07 on a layup to become NJIT's all-time leading scorer, surpassing Jessica Gerald (1,504 career points; 2007-11). She finished with a game-high 27 points and eight rebounds.
NJIT improves to 13-6 overall, 4-2 in the America East. The 13 wins are two shy of the second highest win total in the NJIT Division I era. The Highlanders finished with 15 overall wins in the 2021-22 season.
In addition to Zuniga's game-high 27 points, Olivia Kulyk combined for 23 points on 9-of-12 shooting from the field to go along with six rebounds and three blocks followed by Marissa Gingrich who chipped in 11 points and grabbed seven rebounds.
Olivia O'Meally and Ava Locklear pulled down six and five rebounds respectively in the win.
NJIT scored 14 straight midway through the first quarter to take a 16-5 lead at the 3:10 mark and held a six-point lead, 20-14, after the first 10 minutes.
The Highlanders continued to stay in control to start the second quarter, using a 7-4 run, extending its lead to as many as nine, 27-18, on a three-pointer by Mia Gestosani at the 7:17 mark. Bryant went on a 7-1 run over a span of 2:45 to cut the Highlanders deficit to four, 35-31, with 2:30 on the clock. Olivia Kulyk scored four points in the final minute of the first half as the Highlanders went into the locker room with a 39-34 lead.
Kulyk led all scorers with 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting from the field and 3-of-4 from the free throw line while Alejandra Zuniga chipped in seven points.
Bryant led in the early part of the third quarter, 9-6, pulling within two of the Highlanders, 45-43, but the Highlanders answered with an 8-0 run over the next three minutes, including five points from Zuniga, who became NJIT's all-time leading scorer at the 4:07 mark, surpassing Jessica Gerald (1,504 points; 2007-11) with a tough right-handed layup. NJIT increased its lead to double-digits and took a 12-point lead heading into the final quarter.
In the fourth quarter, NJIT increased its lead to as many as 16, 67-51 at the 7:05 mark and scored the last eight out of 12 points to secure the 78-65 road victory at Bryant to improve to 4-2 in the America East.
As a team, the Highlanders shot 49.1% from the field (27-55) and edged the Bulldogs on the boards, 46-to-40.
Next Up
NJIT will play the next three at home, first welcoming UMBC on January 22 at 6pm. In the first meeting of the season, NJIT picked up an 80-75 road win behind a program-best 39 points from Alejandra Zuniga.
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