NEWARK, NJ – NJIT women's basketball takes its 3-0 record on the road Wednesday, November 11, when the Highlanders travel to Easton, PA, to face Lafayette. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Kirby Sports Center, with the game streaming live on ESPN+.
ABOUT THE AMERICA EAST-METRO CONFERENCE CHALLENGE
NJIT went 2-0 in the inaugural America East-Metro Conference Challenge, opening with a 57-35 home victory over Merrimack on November 5 before earning a 67-63 road win at Marist on November 8.
The America East and Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) partnered to launch the inaugural challenge, bringing together programs from two conferences that share a regional footprint and several key connections, including a mutual broadcast partner in ESPN, a common sponsorship rights holder in Van Wagner, and the same men's basketball officiating coordinator.
The challenge features a series of matchups between the two conferences, with all nine America East women's basketball programs competing against MAAC opponents.
GAME INFORMATION
Opponent: Lafayette
Date: Wednesday, November 11, 2026
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Kirby Sports Arena | Easton, PA
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: GoLeopards.com
3-0 START TO THE SEASON
NJIT has opened the 2026-27 campaign with three consecutive victories, defeating Rider, Merrimack and Marist to remain unbeaten. The Highlanders have started the season 3-0 for the second consecutive year after opening the 2025-26 campaign with victories over Sacred Heart, Fordham and Wagner.
ALL-TIME SERIES
Lafayette holds an 8-2 advantage in the all-time series. NJIT snapped an eight-game losing streak against the Leopards with a 71-60 victory on November 30, 2025.
2025-26 SEASON IN REVIEW
The Highlanders put together one of the most successful seasons in program history in 2025-26, finishing with a program-record 19 victories and surpassing the previous mark of 18 wins established during the 2004-05 campaign.
NJIT also made its first postseason appearance of the Division I era and second overall, advancing to the second round of the WNIT after earning the program's first-ever postseason victory with a win at Merrimack.
Additional milestones from the historic campaign included:
-
A Division I-era best nine non-conference victories.
-
A program-record 10 road wins.
-
Nine America East victories, matching the program record established during the 2021-22 season.
CANNON RECOGNIZED AMONG NATION'S TOP RETURNING FINISHERS
Junior forward Allison Cannon enters the season among the nation's elite returning interior finishers, earning the No. 5 ranking among 50 Division I women's basketball players.
Cannon converted 75.9 percent of her field-goal attempts during the 2025-26 season, establishing herself as one of the most efficient returning finishers in the country.
2026-27 SEASON OPENER
NJIT opened the 2026-27 campaign in impressive fashion, earning a 50-45 victory over visiting Rider.
Senior Marissa Gingrich poured in a game-high 21 points to lead three Highlanders in double figures. Mia Gestosani added a career-high 14 points and five rebounds, while Cannon chipped in 10 points.
The Highlanders delivered a decisive defensive effort in the fourth quarter, holding Rider scoreless over nine consecutive possessions from 4:42 to 0:28. NJIT turned a 43-40 advantage into a 48-40 lead during the stretch.
NJIT also controlled the glass, 48-38, recorded nine blocked shots and held a 12-4 advantage in second-chance points.
NJIT-MERRIMACK AMERICA EAST-METRO CHALLENGE RECAP
Senior Marissa Gingrich scored a game-high 15 points to lead NJIT to a 57-35 victory over Merrimack on November 5 at the Joel and Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center, as the Highlanders improved to 2-0.
NJIT's defense set the tone, forcing 30 turnovers and converting them into 24 points. The Highlanders also recorded 12 steals and held a commanding 38-20 advantage in points in the paint.
NJIT limited Merrimack to just five points in the third quarter, using a 10-0 run to extend its lead and take control of the contest.
Gingrich paced the Highlanders with 15 points and four steals. Freshmen Kate Donovan and Ava Locklear each recorded double-doubles, finishing with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Donovan also added three steals, while Locklear contributed two blocks. Donovan's 12 points and 10 rebounds marked career highs.
Mackenzie Wright-Rawls contributed six rebounds and four assists.
NJIT-MARIST AMERICA EAST-METRO CONFERENCE CHALLENGE RECAP
NJIT connected on 11 three-pointers and had three players score in double figures as the Highlanders earned a 67-63 road victory over Marist on November 8 at McCann Arena.
The Highlanders finished with 11 three-pointers and 17 assists while converting 16 Marist turnovers into 15 points.
Gingrich led the offensive effort with 18 points, including six field goals and five three-pointers. Piper Engelby added a career-high 16 points, knocking down five three-pointers while also recording a block.
Locklear made an impact across the board with six rebounds, four assists and four steals. Gestosani contributed 10 points and two steals while going a perfect 2-for-2 from the free-throw line. Madilyn Dogs rounded out the effort with seven points, six rebounds and two assists.
With the victory, NJIT improved to 3-0 to open the 2026-27 season.
RETURNING PRODUCTION
The Highlanders return four key contributors from last season's record-setting squad:
Statistics from the 2025-26 season.
FAMILIAR FACE
NJIT assistant coach John Hannafin spent four seasons at Lafayette (2022-26) prior to joining the Highlanders staff in August 2026.
Hannafin began his collegiate coaching career at Lafayette in July 2022 as Director of Women's Basketball Operations before being promoted to assistant coach in July 2023. One year later, he added recruiting coordinator responsibilities to his role.
SCOUTING LAFAYETTE
Lafayette enters Wednesday's matchup with a 1-1 record, highlighted by an 88-34 victory over Wagner. The Leopards opened their season against St. John's.
Lafayette returns 11 players from last season's roster, including five who started at least 10 contests. The Leopards finished the 2025-26 campaign with an 11-19 overall record and a 7-11 mark in Patriot League play before advancing to the quarterfinal round of the conference tournament.
Teresa Kiewiet, a 2026-27 Patriot League Preseason All-League selection, leads the returning group after averaging a team-best 16.2 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game last season. Kiewiet scored in double figures in 25 contests, recorded five double-doubles and finished among the top 10 in Lafayette's single-season scoring rankings.
Her postseason honors included Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year, becoming the first Leopard to earn the distinction since the award's inception in 1990-91, and All-Patriot League Second Team recognition.
Lafayette also returns Zurinskas, who started all 30 games last season. The guard averaged 10.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game while shooting 34.8 percent from the field.
Ben O'Brien begins his tenure as Lafayette's eighth head coach since the program's inception in 1972 and its first male head coach. O'Brien arrives at College Hill following a historic four-year run at Scranton, where he compiled a 117-7 (.943) record, captured four conference championships (2023-26), led two undefeated regular seasons (2023, 2026), made four NCAA Tournament appearances (2023-26) and reached the Elite Eight three times (2024-26).
During the 2026 NCAA Tournament, O'Brien guided Scranton to the Division III National Championship Game after helping the program reach the Final Four and snap NYU's 91-game winning streak.
The Leopards were selected to finish fifth in the 10-team Patriot League preseason poll.
NEXT UP
NJIT continues its three-game road swing Saturday, November 14, when the Highlanders travel to face Dartmouth. Tipoff is scheduled for 1 p.m., with coverage available on ESPN+.
STAY CONNECTED
Stay up to date throughout the NJIT women's basketball season by following @NJITWBB on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, and by liking the NJIT Women's Basketball page on Facebook.
