Women’s Hoops Moves Back Into the Win Column, Cannon Records First Triple-Double in NJIT Division I Era
Sophomore Allison Cannon registered NJIT's first triple double in 29 years as the Highlanders earned a 71-60 home victory over visiting Lafayette Sunday afternoon in non-conference women's basketball action inside the Joel and Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center.
Recording 14 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds, Cannon now owns one of three triple-doubles in NJIT women's basketball history. Her 11 assists were two shy of the NJIT single-game program record. The last triple double in Highlander history dates back to 1996 by Kristie Simpson vs. St. Joseph's, 2/19/96 (22 points, 11 rebounds, 10 steals) and by Lauren Battista vs. Old Westbury, 1/28/95 (10 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists).
VIDEOS: NJIT Highlights vs. Lafayette || Post Game Interview w/ head coach Mike Lane and Allison Cannon || Post Game Wrap Up w/ ESPN+ Drew Casey and Assistant Coach Kelly Guarino
The 14 points and 10 rebounds are new personal-bests for the 5-foot-9 Highlander guard from Holmdel, NJ.
NJIT, off to its best start in program history, moves to 7-2 on the season while the Leopards four-game win streak snaps, falling to an even 4-4 on the year.
In addition to Cannon's 14 points, Olivia Kulyk scored a career-best 30 points on 12-of-23 shooting from the field and 6-of-14 from three-point range followed by transfer Ava Locklear who posted a career-best in points (20) and rebounds (16). The 16 rebounds were four shy of the NJIT Division I record (20, Leah Horton vs. Lipscomb, 2/4/16).
NJIT scored the opening six points of the first quarter and the Highlanders pushed its lead to double-digits, 12-2, on a three-pointer by Olivia Kulyk resulting in a Lafayette timeout. The Leopards used a 6-2 run and closed out the quarter on a 5-0 spurt to close the Highlanders gap to within single digits, 17-13. Olivia Kulyk led NJIT w/ eight points.
The Highlanders scored the first five points of the second stanza but the Leopards rallied to cut the NJIT deficit to six, 26-21, at the 6:43 mark. The home team went on a 9-2 run capped by a three-pointer from the top of the arc by Allison Cannon to push NJIT lead to 11, 35-24, at the 3:33 mark. NJIT went into the locker room ahead by 10, 40-30, led by a game-high 16 points from Olivia Kulyk.
Both teams went back and forth in the third quarter with NJIT taking a 13-point lead, 49-36, after five straight points by Ava Locklear with less than five minutes to play. The Leopards closed out the quarter on a 7-4 spurt closing the gap to 10, 53-43.
Lafayette took control of the fourth quarter early with an 11-5 spurt, pulling within single digits, four, 58-54, at the 6:27 mark. The Highlanders responded with nine unanswered points capped by a three-pointer by Kulyk for a 13-point lead, 67-54, and went on to win 71-60 at home.
Next Up
The Highlanders will hit the road and head down the Garden State Parkway and face Monmouth Dec. 3. Tip-off is slated for 5 p.m. on FloSports.