NEWARK, NJ –Coming off one of the best starts in program history at 4-0, the NJIT women's basketball team looks to keep its momentum rolling as it wraps up a three-game road trip with a matchup at Dartmouth on Saturday, November 14.
LAST TIME OUT AT LAFAYETTE
NJIT women's basketball made program history Wednesday night, improving to 4-0 for the best season-opening start in program history with a hard-fought 64-60 road victory over Lafayette inside Kirby Sports Center.
The Highlanders used a dominant 20-7 third quarter to take control of the contest before holding off a late Lafayette rally to secure the four-point victory.
NJIT forced 15 turnovers while committing just nine, resulting in a 14-8 advantage in points off turnovers.
Ava Locklear paced the Highlanders with a double-double, recording 16 points and 12 rebounds to go along with two blocks. Marissa Gingrich reached double figures for the fourth consecutive game, finishing with 14 points, three assists and two steals. Mia Gestosani, Piper Engelby and Mackenzie Wright Rawls each contributed eight points.
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: Dartmouth
Date: Saturday, November 14, 2026
Time: 1 p.m.
Location: Leede Arena | Hanover, NH
Watch: ESPN+
Live Stats: DartmouthSports.com
4-0 START TO THE SEASON
Coming off one of the best starts in program history at 4-0, the Highlanders have defeated Lafayette, Rider, Merrimack and Marist to remain unbeaten in 2026.
ALL-TIME SERIES
Saturday will mark the sixth all-time meeting between the two teams. Dartmouth leads the all-time series, 5-0.
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:
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A Division I-era best nine non-conference victories.
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A program-record 10 road wins.
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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.
FROM DOWNTOWN
NJIT connected on 11 three-pointers at Marist on November 11. Last season, NJIT sank 11 three-pointers against Saint Peter's (11/19/25) and Lafayette (11/30/25).
SCOUTING DARTMOUTH
Dartmouth enters Saturday's contest with a 2-1 overall record, earning victories over Boston University and New Hampshire. The Big Green's lone setback came against Holy Cross, falling by a narrow 49-46 margin.
Most recently, Dartmouth improved to 2-0 at home with a 51-46 victory over in-state rival New Hampshire on Wednesday night at Leede Arena, in front of 985 fans. After trailing by four points at halftime, the Big Green rallied in the second half and held UNH scoreless over the final 3:47 to secure the win. Zeynep Ozel led Dartmouth with 16 points, while Tahira Muhammad provided a spark off the bench, knocking down three three-pointers in the second half.
Ozel leads the Big Green in scoring, averaging 10.3 points and 4.0 rebounds per game, while also dishing out a team-high 10 assists. Olivia Austin is averaging 6.0 points and 8.7 rebounds per game, followed by Catherine MacDonald, who is pulling down 8.3 rebounds per contest.
NEXT UP
NJIT will return to action on Wednesday, November 18 when the Highlanders host Delaware State at 6pm. NJIT has won the last two meetings between the two schools.
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.
