The NJIT Highlanders Women’s Basketball Team(6-14, 3-4 America East) dropped their fourth straight game in a 75-59 loss to the University of Albany Great Danes(17-4, 7-1 America East) at the Joel & Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center(NJIT) in Newark, New Jersey.
Enya Maguire and Olivia Kulyk each posted a team-high 14 points for the Highlanders.
“We showed heart and hustle and that we can play with these guys but there’s got be aggressiveness and we have to fight off the passive play,” NJIT Head Coach Mike Lane explained. “We just have to make plays with confidence and sharpness and difference that Albany shows you.” “The girls are disappointed with how things are going but today we looked like us at times, but we have to be more consistent.”
“This was always going to be a tough stretch with Maine, Vermont and Albany and with that New Hampshire trip in there and a tough game to drop because you had those other three big dogs.” “We did not compete against New Hampshire, Vermont or Albany like we wanted to, and I don’t know if the loss to Maine took a lot out of us because we battled pretty well there but we couldn’t get over the hump with them.”
“I think we can take some confidence and positives for sure from this game but don’t feel good about Maine then lose in New Hampshire and then come out against Vermont where it’s 20-6 again and feels like New Hampshire all over again.” “Those were tough and Albany came out so hot today and we just didn’t do anything to stop it.”
Albany raced out to a 9-2 advantage not even three minutes into the first quarter, but NJIT answered back with a run to narrow the gap to 12-8. The Great Danes shot a blistering 88 percent from the field and controlled the edge in rebounds, points in the paint, and fast-break points.
The Highlanders kept pace in a high-scoring first quarter. Enya Maguire and Olivia Kulyk provided the bulk of the scoring, with Maguire reaching double figures at ten points, including two trifectas, and Kulyk supplying eight points and hitting two triples. At the end of the first period, the Highlanders trailed 26-22.
“They were coming off a bad loss and knew they were going to come out and hit very every shot and scored 26 points,” Head Coach Mike Lane described. “I think at one we were about to go down nine but then Olivia (Kulyk) hit a three and all of sudden we were able to play with them.”
“Enya(Maguire) at three buckets, two of them at the rim and she has not shown that so we’ve been really trying to push her and not how she played at her former school so it’s been uncomfortable but huge buckets and open and everybody knows she can shoot and everybody’s running at her.” “The fact she can start to drive and get some easy two’s.”
“Olivia is learning how to score, and you need that balance because you just can’t be the driver, shooter and post-up player and be a one trick player and that’s a really easy thing to stop.” “That’s a really easy thing to take to stop and Albany is just going to take that away and they didn’t want to give up the threes.”
In the second quarter, Albany erupted for a 10-0 blitz that expanded the margin to 36-22 three and a half minutes into the quarter. The Highlanders were unable to contain the dynamic trio of Kaci Donovan, Kayla Cooper, and Jessica Tomasetti, who combined to tally 24 points.
The Great Danes were firing on all cylinders offensively, exploding for a 7-0 spurt that boosted their lead to 45-28. By the time halftime rolled around, Albany led 49-32, having outscored NJIT 23-11 in the quarter. They shot 50 percent from the floor and had eight assists. The Great Danes bench produced 12 points and distributed the ball around with 11 assists.
Once the third quarter commenced, both teams’ scoring came to a grinding halt. The teams combined for 16 points, with the Highlanders mustering just four points on 16 percent shooting as Albany expanded their advantage to 61-37.
In the fourth quarter, NJIT displayed grit and determination, with several bench players getting quality playing minutes on the court and the team shooting 60 percent from the field. Despite the deficit, the team’s determination is a source of pride for the fans as they fought till the end.
“We don’t have to be intimidated by the scene and it’s really easy down 19 but we couldn’t lay down especially on our home court and we came out and fought,” Head Coach Mike Lane noted. “I thought our defense in the third quarter was awesome and we held Albany to three points for six or seven minutes.”
“You have to play a perfect game against Albany and shoot very well.” “We were 5 for 23 from three-point range and including missing 14 the other night and this is not us.” “We had people rush shots and when the ball is down at your knees and can’t go and try to shoot that and I know the kids want to make the play really hard but that’s maturity.”
The Highlanders return to action on Thursday, January 30th, at UMass Lowell, with an early tip-off set for 11 a.m. at the Costello Athletic Center in Lowell, Massachusetts. This game is crucial for the team’s momentum as they will then play another road game at Bryant on Saturday, February 1st, with a start time of 2 p.m. at The Chace Athletic Center in Smithfield, Rhode Island.