The NJIT Highlanders women’s basketball Team dropped a seventh game in a row despite Alejandra Zuniga reaching a milestone by tallying her 1000th career point in a 63-54 loss to the Monmouth Hawks at the NJIT Wellness and Events Center in Newark, New Jersey.
Final from NJIT.
⚔️Alejandra Zuniga | 17pts, 6ast, Scored 1,000 career points
⚔️Olivia Kulyk | 13pts, 5reb
⚔️Madilyn Dogs | 10pts, 5rebs#RollTech pic.twitter.com/Su9rSqAD1x— NJIT Women’s Basketball (@NJITWBB) December 10, 2024
NJIT (2-9) jumped out to a 10-3 lead in the first three and a half minutes of the first quarter. However, the Highlanders’ offense went ice-cold the rest of the quarter, as Monmouth responded with an 8-0 spurt to jump ahead 11-10.
1st QTR | 4:59
NJIT 10, Monmouth 3Off to a quick start for the Highlanders‼️ pic.twitter.com/6QhIylKLaJ
— NJIT Women’s Basketball (@NJITWBB) December 10, 2024
NJIT’s offensive woes carried into the second quarter, with Alejandra Zuniga finally ending an almost eight-minute drought by hitting a free throw that trimmed the margin to 13-11.
The Highlanders stayed within striking distance the rest of the quarter, closing within 21-20 with less than four minutes left. However, the Hawks (4-6) answered back with a 6-0 run and eventually led 30-24 at halftime.
Halftime in Newark
⚔️Alejandra Zuniga | 9pts, 3ast, 2reb
⚔️Madilyn Dogs | 4pts, 2stl pic.twitter.com/hPbMwyxRMi— NJIT Women’s Basketball (@NJITWBB) December 10, 2024
NJIT head coach Mike Lane spoke about the team’s performance in the first half: “The first five minutes were great, then the next 15 were just kind of scuffling. We had to go to our bench and get some depth in there, which took some of the momentum away.”
“I thought we had some turnovers which hurt us in crucial spots and missed shots up and down the roster. We felt good after a great start, but we gave up too many baskets and should have been defending better and they were killing us with their size. We tried to match up with their size and it wasn’t working and we’re down six at the half and where they haven’t scored, and we haven’t shot well.”
In the third quarter, both teams struggled immensely on the offensive end, combining for 24 points, but Monmouth still managed to boost its advantage to double digits at 44-34.
End of 3rd QTR
Monmouth 44, NJIT 34That's the reigning @AmericaEast Rookie of the Week‼️ pic.twitter.com/P7xJg4Dq0R
— NJIT Women’s Basketball (@NJITWBB) December 10, 2024
NJIT shot a meager 22 percent from the field and 2 of 6 from behind the arc. “We went to a smaller lineup but the same quarter as the first,” Lane explained.
The Highlanders exhibited much energy once the fourth quarter commenced, igniting a rebuttal with a quick 5-0 blitz to narrow the gap. Allison Cannon drove to the rim for a layup and a trifecta from Aria Myers.
COUNT IT! pic.twitter.com/7wAT16ktSX
— NJIT Women’s Basketball (@NJITWBB) December 10, 2024
Monmouth countered NJIT’s outburst, erupting for a 6-0 run that widened the margin to 52-41 with five minutes remaining. The Highlanders managed to slice the deficit down to six points on several occasions, but the Hawks could slice and dice for layups in the paint and hit their free throws down the stretch for the win.
Monmouth dominated the points in the paint 36-24 and rebounded 47-28.
“We got a little juice in the fourth quarter, but we put them on the line too much, and we didn’t make our shots,” said Lane.
Zuniga reached a significant milestone, scoring her 1000th career point in the fourth quarter and finishing with a game-high 17 points.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝟏𝐊 𝐂𝐥𝐮𝐛‼️
Congratulations to Alejandra Zuniga on becoming the 13th Highlander to reach 1,000 career points.#RollTech pic.twitter.com/H81RkYYhSC
— NJIT Women’s Basketball (@NJITWBB) December 10, 2024
“Very happy for her and it’s better to get that thing behind you and when it’s a kid like her it’s so impressive and she had a great game with six assists,” Lane noted.
Olivia Kulyk scored 13 points, including three triples, and Madilyn Dogs chipped in with 10 points.
“Maddie (Dogs) energy was great and she would like to have some shots back but I think from that first half there were some shots that didn’t go her way but she kept playing and she’s really matured and gave us a spark in the second half,” Lane stated.
“Olivia (Kulyk) needs to score and be aggressive, and she’s growing into that role. She’s a very versatile and confident player, so there’s more offense there, and we have to keep pulling it out.”
NJIT will attempt to break the losing skid when they return to the hardwood court on Thursday at Wagner, with tip-off set for 7 p.m. at the Spiro Sports Center in Staten Island, New York. The Highlanders wrap up 2024 at LIU on Monday, Dec. 30, at 7 p.m. at the Steinberg Wellness Center in Brooklyn, New York.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝟏𝐊 𝐂𝐥𝐮𝐛‼️
Congratulations to Alejandra Zuniga on becoming the 13th Highlander to reach 1,000 career points.#RollTech pic.twitter.com/H81RkYYhSC
— NJIT Women’s Basketball (@NJITWBB) December 10, 2024
“We need to get focused and win and talk about changing stuff,” Lane remarked after the loss. “We got to go on the road and do it now. We have dropped too many close games at home and now our backs are against the wall. We got to come out and play with some urgency and get a win going into finals with some positive vibes and then come back against LIU before America East play which is going to be hard.”
