Two in a Row, Zuniga Nets Game-Best 23 Points in NJIT's Win Over Saint Francis U

The NJIT women's basketball team won its second straight game at home behind a game-best 23 points from sophomore Alejandra Zuniga as the Highlanders defeated visiting Saint Francis U, 68-41, Friday evening inside the Joel and Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center.

NJIT, which will break for Christmas, improves to 7-5 overall and 5-1 inside the WEC while Saint Francis U drops to 1-9 on the season.

Photo Gallery
VIDEO: NJIT Highlights vs. SFU
VIDEO: NJIT Post Game Interview with Alejandra Zuniga and head coach Mike Lane
VIDEO: NJIT Post Game Wrap Up Show with Assistant Coach Payce Lange

After leading 29-16 at the break, NJIT outscored Saint Francis U in the third quarter, 23-11, and cruised to a 68-41 home victory.

Zuniga, who registered her 12th straight double-digit game, finished with 23 points on 8-of-16 shooting from the field and 6-of-7 from three-point range. The six three-pointers made are a career-best.

Graduate student Kenna Squier added 11 points on 3-of-4 from the field and finished a perfect 4-of-4 from the free throw line.

The Highlanders out-rebounded the Red Flash, 47-to-37, led by freshmen Madilyn Dogs and Mackenzie Wright-Rawls each set new personal-best marks in rebounds, pulling down 11 and 7 respectively. 

Classmate Marissa Gingirch matched her personal-best mark in total points (6). Reese Vaughan added seven points off the bench for NJIT and Lilly Anderson, making her first start of the season, combined for seven points, three rebounds and two blocks.

As a team, NJIT combined for 11 blocks, two shy of the NJIT Division I single game mark (13 at Binghamton (1.11.23) paced by Kiana Brereton's career-best four blocks. Anderson and Wright-Rawls added two blocks apiece.

NJIT came out on fire in the first quarter, taking an 11-2 run, resulting in a Saint Francis U timeout just under the eight-minute mark led by Zuniga with five points. Saint Francis U scored six straight points to cut the lead to three, 11-8 at the 5:04 mark. Sparked by a three-pointer by Zuniga, NJIT closed out the quarter on a 7-4 run for a six-point lead, 18-12, after the first 10 minutes.

After a slow start to the second quarter, NJIT finished off the quarter on a 9-2 spurt led by Lilly Anderson's five points to head into the locker room with a 29-16 lead.

At the half, Alejandra Zuniga led all scorers with 13 points followed by Kenna Squier (5) and Lilly Anderson (5). Madilyn Dog matched her personal-best mark with nine rebounds through the first 20 minutes of action.

NJIT outscored Saint Francis U in the third quarter 23-11 to increase its lead to 20+ points, heading into the final stanza with a 52-27 lead and cruised the rest of the way to secure the Highlanders second straight win of the season at home with a 68-41 victory.

Saint Francis U Yanessa Boyd led the Red Flash with 11 points and Destini Ward pulled down a game-best 11 rebounds.

Next Up
As part of a doubleheader with the NJIT men, NJIT will return to action and host LIU on Dec. 31 at 1 p.m. followed by the NJIT men vs. Morgan State at 4:30 p.m. inside the Joel & Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center to close out 2023.