NJIT Holds Off Women's Basketball, 58-47, in Non-Conference Play

Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information

Albany, N.Y. – Jessica Gerald netted a game-high 20 points and Kehinde Oyelola contributed 12 points and five rebounds to lead the New Jersey Institute of Technology to a 58-47 non-league victory over the University at Albany in women’s basketball action on Tuesday, Dec. 9, at SEFCU Arena.

NJIT (2-5) nailed its first eight shots from the field to take a commanding 20-9 advantage in the opening eight minutes of the contest. Kehinde Oyelola racked up eight points, including two three-point field goals, during the stretch.

Led by Janea Aiken, the Great Danes rallied to score the next six points to make it a one-possession game with nine minutes left in the half. UAlbany was able to cut the Highlander lead down to two points on three occasions, but never got over the hump and trailed 28-26 at the break.

After Gerald converted two free throws to open the second half, Tiffanie Johnson made a jumper on the left block to pull UAlbany (1-8) within two points for the fourth time. The Highlanders answered with a 7-0 run to boost their lead back up to nine points five minutes into the second stanza.

A conventional three-point play by Shelby Coon, who set two career highs with nine points and seven rebounds, brought the Great Danes within a basket with 11:08 left to play.

“I thought that having Ashley Lindsay out (of the lineup) was what motivated me,” said Coon on her breakout performance. “I knew I needed to fill her shoes to the best of my ability.”

Following Coon’s free throw, NJIT answered with ten straight points and held the Great Danes without a field goal for over nine minutes. Aiken, who had a team-high 18 points, scored UAlbany’s final eight in a span of 1:30 to bring the Highlander lead down to seven with 35 seconds to go. However, it was too late and Gerald hit four free throws to seal the 11-point win.

“We need to do a better job of getting the ball in the basket,” said head coach Trina Patterson. “It was a scrappy game. Our team is still young and trying to find its identity. However, I was very impressed with the performance of our freshmen. Shelby played very well.”

The Great Danes, who will embark on a five-game road trip beginning on Dec. 19 at St. Francis, N.Y., were outrebounded by the Highlanders, 34-27. NJIT outshot UAlbany from the floor, 50 percent (19-38) to 37.7 percent (20-53), and 53.3 percent (8-15) to 10 percent (1-10) from beyond the three-point arc. The Highlanders also had a 66.7 percent (12-18) to 46.2 percent (6-13) advantage from the free-throw line.