Box Score

HOUSTON – Houston Baptist led at halftime for just the second time this season, but visiting NJIT shot 59 percent from the floor in the second half, as HBU fell to the Highlanders, 69-52, Thursday evening from Sharp Gym in the conference opener for both teams.

Brittany Barton tied a career high with a game-high 18 points, 14 of which came in the first half, for HBU (1-16, 0-1 GWC). She also set a new personal best with seven rebounds. Devyn Weymouth scored 14 points, two shy of her personal best, while Shanice Steenholdt finished with 10 points and six rebounds. Steenholdt was injured late in the first half and never returned.

NJIT (7-11, 1-0 GWC) was led in scoring by Sarah Olson with 16 points, followed by Rayven Johnson, who recorded a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds. Reigning Great West Conference Player of the Week Denisa Domiterova scored 13 points for the Highlanders.

With the teams tied at four apiece with 17:30 left in the opening half, HBU went on a 12-0 run to lead 16-4. An Olson three halted the run, but it didn't slow down the Huskies, who scored 10 of the next 15 points to lead by 14, 26-12, with 5:50 remaining in the first half.

The Huskies led by as many as 15, 29-14, before NJIT closed out the half on a 12-1 run to trail by four at the break, 30-26.

Barton led all scorers in the first half, scoring 14 points. Domiterova led NJIT with seven points.

NJIT started the second half scoring eight straight points to take a four-point lead, 34-30, prompting HBU to take a timeout. Domiterova and Olson each hit a three in the run.

HBU closed to within two, 34-32, before the Highlanders went on a 19-6 run in a span of six minutes to lead HBU, 53-38, with 10:43 remaining in the game.

The closest the Huskies came the rest of the game was 12, as Weymouth hit two free throws and Barton hit one following a Jelena Zoric three pointer. NJIT closed out the game outscoring the Huskies 16-11 to defeat HBU 69-52.

HBU will host Chicago State on Sat., Jan. 21, at 7 pm.