Women’s Hoops off to Best Start in Program History, Defeats Drexel 73-66

NJIT had four players in double-figures led by sophomore Olivia Kulyk's 24 points as the Highlanders defeated visiting Drexel, 73-66, Saturday afternoon in women's basketball non-conference action inside the Joel and Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center.

NJIT picked up its third straight win of the season, moved to 3-0 inside the WEC and are off to the best start in program history at 6-1. 

VIDEOS: NJIT Post Game Interview w/ head coach Mike Lane and Olivia Kulyk || Post Game Recap w/ ESPN+ Drew Casey & Assistant Coach Payce Lange || NJIT Highlights vs. Drexel 

Drexel, ranked No. 18 by Women's Mid Major Top 25 (as of November 18), dropped to 4-2 on the season.

In addition to Kulyk's team-best 24 points, Marissa Gingrich finished with 21 points, Ava Locklear (11) and Allison Cannon (10). Locklear combined for her first double-double of the season with 11 points and pulling down 10 rebounds for the Highlanders.

Kulyk finished the game shooting 8-for-17 from the field, 5-of-11 from three-point range and added eight rebounds while Gingrich combined for 6-of-11 from the field, 3-for-7 from downtown and was a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line. Locklear went 5-of-8 from the field and Cannon finished 4-of-6 from the field.

NJIT scored the first 11 straight points of the game, resulting in a Drexel timeout paced by Marissa Gingrich and Ava Locklear with five points each. Over the next 2:20, Drexel scored eight consecutive points to cut the Highlander deficit to three, 11-8, just under the four minute mark. The Highlanders closed out the quarter on a 7-2 run for an eight-point lead, 18-10.

The Highlanders stayed in control to begin the second quarter with a 11-2 run behind eight straight points from Olivia Kulyk for a 29-15 advantage. Drexel worked their way back into the contest, cutting the lead to 10, 31-21, at the 2:50 mark.

Marissa Gingrich led all players at the half with 12 points followed by Olivia Kulyk (9) and Ava Locklear (7). Drexel's Amaris Baker led the visitors with 11 points.

The Dragons continued its run into the start of the third quarter, using a 9-0 spurt to pull within four of NJIT, 34-30, a minute into the third. Kulyk connected on a three-pointer in front of the Highlander bench to get the home team on the board. The Highlanders went on an 8-4 spurt for a nine-point lead, 39-30, on an old-fashioned three-point play by Allison Cannon. NJIT's Kulyk scored five straight points in a span of a minute to give NJIT a 49-38 lead.

Drexel made an early run to start the fourth quarter with a 6-2 run to close the Highlander cap to within four, 55-51, at the 6:52 mark, resulting in an NJIT timeout. A 6-0 run over the last 2:02 for the Highlanders was capped by a turnaround jumper by Kulyk for a 10-point lead, 61-51. The Dragons went on a 7-2 run pulling within five of the home team, 63-58, with 3:03 on the clock but NJIT used a quick 5-1 run to extend the Highlanders lead to nine, 68-59, on a three-pointer by Gingrich. Drexel scored five straight points to close the gap to within four, 68-64, with twenty six seconds on the clock but NJIT sealed the game from the free throw line to secure the sixth victory of the season with a 73-66 home win.

As a team, NJIT shot 55.3 percent from the field (26-for-47) and 45 percent from three-point range (9-for-20). The Highlanders dished out 15 assists led by Cannon's team-best four assists.