Box Score

NJIT NJIT 18-12,9-7 America East

UMBC UMBC 16-13,10-6 America East

NJIT NJIT

18-12,9-7 America East

Final

Mar. 05, 2026

UMBC UMBC

16-13,10-6 America East

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	3	4	F
NJIT NJIT	21	17	12	15	65
UMBC UMBC	15	12	19	20	66

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | 3/5/2026 10:00:00 PM

Women’s Basketball Concludes Season at 2026 Air Force Reserve America East Quarterfinals

BALTIMORE, MD — Fourth-seeded UMBC Retrievers women's basketball received a game-winning layup from Jade Tillman with one second remaining to defeat the fifth-seeded NJIT Highlanders women's basketball, 66–65, in the 2026 Air Force Reserve America East Women's Basketball Quarterfinals Thursday evening at Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena.

With the loss, NJIT concludes its season at 18–12 overall, matching the program record for wins and marking the most victories in the Highlanders' Division I era. NJIT also finished with nine conference wins, tying the program mark previously set during the 2021–22 season, while its nine non-conference wins represent the most in the Division I era.

Fourth Quarter
NJIT opened the final period strong as Alejandra Zuniga connected on a jumper and a three-pointer to give the Highlanders a 55–49 lead. UMBC answered with a 9–4 run to pull within one, 59–58, at the 5:26 mark.

Allison Cannon scored four consecutive points to push NJIT ahead 63–58 with 3:13 remaining, but UMBC responded with four straight to cut the deficit to one. Zuniga's fast-break layup with 1:10 left extended the Highlanders' lead to 65–62.

Tillman converted a layup with 50 seconds remaining to make it 65–64 before delivering the decisive basket in the closing seconds to secure the home victory.

Team Leaders
Tillman paced UMBC with 21 points and 12 rebounds, shooting 9-of-18 from the field. Alaina Williams added 12 points on 6-of-8 shooting along with five rebounds.

Zuniga and Cannon led NJIT with 16 points apiece, while Kulyk added 14 points. Zuniga also recorded six rebounds and four assists, while Cannon and Kulyk each grabbed five boards. Madilyn Dogs contributed eight points off the bench.

Game Summary
UMBC scored the first six points of the game, but NJIT responded with an 11–2 run to take an 11–8 lead midway through the opening quarter. The Highlanders closed the period on a 10–5 run to lead 21–15 after one.

NJIT extended its advantage in the second quarter with an 8–3 run, pushing the lead to 29–18 following a layup by Mackenzie Wright-Rawls. A 9–0 surge later in the period increased the Highlanders' lead to 38–22 after a layup from Dogs. UMBC scored five points in the final 45 seconds of the half to trim the deficit to 38–27 at the break.

UMBC began the third quarter with a 9–4 run, cutting the lead to 42–36 behind nine points from Tillman. NJIT held a narrow 50–46 advantage heading into the fourth quarter after a late jumper and free throws from Kulyk.

Season Milestones
Three Highlanders appeared in their final collegiate game Thursday: Kyleigh Welsh, Avery O'Roke, and Alejandra Zuniga.

Welsh and O'Roke were both four-year members of the program and earned Dean's List honors seven times during their careers. Each will graduate in May with a degree in Business.

Zuniga concludes her career as one of the most accomplished players in program history. She finishes as NJIT's all-time leading scorer with 1,704 career points and ranks second in the Division I era with 331 assists. Earlier this season, she set a program single-game record with 39 points at UMBC on January 1.

This season, Zuniga ranked second in the America East Conference in scoring (17.9 ppg) and fifth in assists (3.8 apg) while averaging 33.3 minutes per game and ranking among the conference leaders in free-throw percentage.

Her career honors include: