4 Highlanders Score in Double-Figures as NJIT Tops Visiting Manhattan

Four Highlanders scored in double-figures led by sophomore transfer Ava Locklear's team-high 18 points in NJIT's 71-54 home victory over visiting Manhattan Sunday afternoon in women's basketball non-conference action inside the Joel and Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center.

With the win, NJIT moves to 8-3 on the season, the best start in program history, with two non-conference games remaining before America East Conference action begins in January 2026. Manhattan, still in search of its first win of the 2025 season, falls to 0-9 on the year.

VIDEOS: NJIT Highlights vs. Manhattan || Post Game w/ ESPN+ Jesse Agel, head coach Mike Lane and Ava Locklear || Post Game Wrap Up w/ Assistant Coach Payce Lange and ESPN+ Matt Provence

In addition to Locklear's 18 points, Alejandra Zuniga combined for 16 points, Marissa Gingrich (15) and Madilyn Dogs (10).

Locklear finished 6-for-10 from the field and was perfect from downtown, shooting 3-of-3 to go along with seven rebounds and four steals. Zuniga combined for 6-of-12 from the field, pulling down four rebounds and dishing out four assists. Dogs grabbed seven rebounds and dished out four assists while Gingrich shot 5-of-10 from the field and 3-for-6 from three-point range. Gingrich added five rebounds.

Manhattan held an early one-point advantage, 11-10, with less than four minutes to go in the first quarter but the Highlanders rallied back and scored the next six points for a 16-11 lead at the end of the first 10.

NJIT opened the second quarter of action on a 14-4 run to push the Highlanders lead 15, 30-15, resulting in a Manhattan timeout at the 5:10 mark. The Jaspers used a 9-2 spurt to close the NJIT gap to within six, 32-26, with less than a minute to play.

At the half, Alejandra Zuniga led the Highlanders with 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting from the field while Manhattan's Brianna Davis paced all players with 13 points on 6-of-10 from the field.

NJIT pushed its lead to 10, 40-30, on a pull-up jumper in the paint by Allison Cannon with 7:22 on the clock. Manhattan scored eight straight to pull within two, 40-38, at the 4:02 mark. Sparked by a Marissa Gingrich three-pointer, Gingrich sparked a 10-4 run to take a 50-42 lead, heading into the final quarter.

The Highlanders took control of the fourth quarter with an early 9-3 lead to extend its lead to 14, 59-45 behind a 7-1 run just under the four-minute media and never looked back. The Highlanders largest lead of the quarter was 18, 67-49, on a three-pointer by Gingrich at the 1:50 mark for a 67-52 advantage.

As a team, NJIT shot 45.6% from the field (26-for-57) and outrebounded the Jaspers, 42-to-28 and dished out 16 assists.

Next Up
NJIT will host Dartmouth (Dec. 11 at 6pm) prior to Christmas break. The final non-conference game of the season will be Dec. 29 at Delaware State. Tip off is slated for 2 p.m.