NEWARK, NJ–Visiting UAlbany had three players in double-digits as the Great Danes defeated NJIT, 71-54, Thursday evening in America East Conference women's basketball action inside the Joel and Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center.
UAlbany moves to 12-9 overall, 2-6 in the America East while the Highlanders stand at 13-8 overall, 4-4 in the America East.
The Highlanders were led by a team-best 17 points from Ava Locklear followed by Olivia Kulyk (11) and Madilyn Dogs (10). Alejandra Zuniga chipped in nine points.
On the glass, Locklear and Dogs grabbed six rebounds each and Zuniga added four.
Zuniga finished with five assists and tallied her 300th career assist at the 7:49 mark on a pass to Ava Locklear in the second quarter. The senior from Madrid, Spain, who is NJIT's all-time leading scorer with 1,547 career points sits second in the NJIT Division I era and fifth all-time in women's basketball history with 300 career assists.
UAlbany opened the scoring with six straight and held an 11-6 lead with under four minutes to go. The six Highlander points were from Olivia Kulyk from downtown. The Great Danes finished the quarter on a 11-5 run as the visitors led 22-11 after the first 10 minutes.
NJIT came out in the second quarter on fire, 10-2, cutting the Great Danes deficit to three, 24-21, on a three-pointer by Alejandra Zuniga just under the seven minute mark. A 7-2 push by the Great Danes extended its lead to 31-23 at the 3:02 mark and led by eight, 34-26, heading into the locker room.
Kulyk paced the Highlanders with nine points followed by Ava Locklear (7), and Zuniga (5).
NJIT scored five quick points to open the third quarter to slim the Great Dane lead to five, 36-31, at the 8:20 mark but visitors went on a 13-4 run over a span of four minutes for a 15-point lead, 50-35 with less than two minutes to go.
UAlbany pushed its lead up to as many as 18, 64-46, at the 4:26 mark and cruised to a 71-54 road victory.
Great Danes sophomore Delanie Hill led all scorers with 22 points.
Next Up
NJIT will wrap up the three-game home stretch on January 31 at 12Noon hosting defending America East Conference Champions Vermont.
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