The test doesn't get any easier for NJIT seeking its first win of the 2015 season when the Highlanders visit Huntington, WV, to take on Marshall's 3-0 Thundering Herd and its 89.3 points per game, on Sunday at 1 pm.
LISTEN LIVEMichael Ventola will handle play-by-play in conjunction with the live streaming video feed on
www.njithighlanders.com beginning at 12:45pm.
A LOOK AT NJITNJIT is coming off a 75-47 home opener loss against unbeaten Lehigh last Thursday. Junior forward
Leah Horton, who was held scoreless in the opener at Binghamton, bounced back on Thursday, leading her team with 15 points and 6 rebounds.
The Highlanders (0-2) are paced by juniors
Olivia Dudley (8.5 ppg) and co-captain
Camerin Spahn (8.0 ppg).
Olivia Dudley scored a career-best 15 points coming off the bench on 5-of-7 shooting from 3-point range at Binghamton, while Spahn matched her personal-high, scoring 14 points and 8 rebounds at Binghamton.
NJIT VS. CONFERENCE USA OPPONENTSThe Highlanders are 1-1 against C-USA opponents. NJIT defeated Florida Atlantic in the opening game of the Florida Atlantic Thanksgiving Tournament last season, 65-57. Marshall edged NJIT 57-56 in their only previous meeting two seasons ago in Newark on January 5, 2014.
NEXT ACTIONNJIT will play the next two games at home on Fleisher Family Court, first hosting the St. Joseph's Brooklyn Bears on Tuesday at 7pm.
KEEPING ITS SOCIALKeep up with the latest news about NJIT Highlanders by liking the team's official Facebook page: NJIT Highlanders Athletics. For live in-game updates and news, follow @NJITHighlanders on Twitter. Want to see photos and behind-the-scenes action? Give @NJITHighlanders a follow on Instagram.
A LOOK AT MARSHALLMarshall (3-0) has started off hot this season, especially on the offensive side scoring over 90 points in the first two games – 104 points at Morehead State and 92 against Brescia. The Herd are coming off a 72-62 victory over Atlantic 10 Rhode Island.
The Herd, opening the season with a five-game home stand, are led by five double-figure scorers:
Leah Scott (18.7 ppg, 8.0 rpg)
Shayns Gore (16.7 ppg, 3.8 rpg)
Talequia Hamilton (12.7 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 5 blocks)
Norisha Victrum (12.3 ppg, 18 assists)
Taylor Porter (10.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 9 assists, 7 steals)
HAVE YOU HERD?Marshall returns six to its roster, including top scorer Leah Scott (15.4/game) and Norrisha Victrum top in assists (3.5/game). Also returning is Chelsey Romero, who ranks seventh in program history with 84 career blocks, McKenzie Akers, Kiana Evans and Enjonae Chambers.
Redshirt junior Talequia Hamilton, who transferred from Cincinnati, and redshirt sophomore Taylor Porter, who transferred from Murray State, sat out in 2014-15 due to NCAA transfer rules.
C-USA FRESHMAN OF THE WEEKShayna Gore scored 40 points in her first two collegiate games, earning Conference USA Freshman of the Week honors. Gore is shooting 71.4 percent from the floor going 15 of 21 and 50 percent from beyond the arc (5-10). She scored 27 points in her debut at Morehead State to help lead the Herd to a 104-101 victory.
PRESEASON CONFERENCE USA HONORSRedshirt senior Leah Scott was named to the Preseason All-Conference USA second team, after a strong campaign in 2014-15. Scott started all 32 games, averaging 15.4 ppg and 6.6 rpg while scoring a career-best 26 points in each of the Herd WBI games (at Northern Kentucky and Mercer).
WBI TOURNAMENT PLAYMarshall made it to the Women's Basketball Invitational (WBI) at the end of the 2014-15 season. It was the Herd's first appearance in postseason play since going to the NCAA Tournament in 1997 after winning the Southern Conference championship. Marshall won its first-ever postseason game when it defeated Northern Kentucky 81-79 (3/19/15) in the first round of the WBI. Marshall lost a close one in the second round 73-71 at Mercer (3/22/15).
