Jan. 9, 2008

Box Score

EDINBURG, TX - Four Highlanders posted double-figure totals as they went on to a 67-61 road win over Texas-Pan American Wednesday night in women's basketball action.

The win for NJIT was its third of the season and first road victory under new head coach Margaret McKeon.

Sophomore forward Taiwo Oyelola posted a career-high 20-point outburst, which came in 28 minutes of action, including 7-for-15 shooting from the field, while shooting a perfect 5-for-5 from the free throw line and sharing game-high honors with teammate Jackie McCaffrey with six rebounds. Oyelola's 20 points were two-shy of tying NJIT's women's basketball Division I record of 22 points set by teammate Jill Dickinson last year.

Taiwo Oyelola excelled her personal college scoring high by six points, having scored a previous high of 14 points vs. defending America East champions UMBC on November 28.

Following one-point behind was lone senior Erika Velez who tied her career-high scoring 19 points, shooting 5-for-6 from the field and 8-for-10 from the free throw line. Velez recorded 19 points against Bryant back on December 29, 2004. Velez posted a team-high seven assists and grabbed three steals in the victory.

Dickinson and sophomore guard Katie Piekielski each contributed 10 points apiece. Statistics for both players were very similar as they shot 4-for-11 from the field and 2-for-7 from behind the arc.

Bronc freshman Maria Erlingsdottir who appeared in her fifth game of the season posted a career-high as she led UTPA with 14 points in 23 minutes off the bench.

Dickinson's three-pointer from the top of the key at 6:52 gave the Highlanders a 51-48 advantage over the Broncs. The next possession down the floor Taiwo Oyelola finished an old-fashion three-point play giving NJIT a six point lead at the 6:19 mark.

The closest the Broncs came to the Highlanders was three points on a jumper in the paint from Erlingsdottir with 1:05 left in the game bringing the score 64-61.

NJIT senior Velez took care of the ball scoring the last three points of the game from the free throw line securing the win for the Highlanders.

The Highlanders opened up the game on an 11-2 spurt led by Taiwo Oyelola - with seven points.

UTPA closed the gap and came within one point of the Highlanders, 13-12, on a jumper by Aleeya Grigsby with 9:31 left to go in the half. The Broncs pulled ahead by two on the following play on a three-pointer from the left wing by Tamara Vaughn.

With 4:23 left, NJIT dug down deep and fought back to within one point, 23-22, on a jumper by Dickinson just inside the three-point arc.

The Highlanders will return to action on Friday in a neutral site game at Texas-Pan American and take on Cal-State Bakersfield at 7pm.