Box Score
Post-Game Interview with Mary Gleason (video)

HOUSTON – NJIT used a 14-1 run midway through the first half to turn a six-point deficit into a seven-point advantage, as Houston Baptist lost to the visiting Highlanders, 65-49, Saturday afternoon at Sharp Gym.

HBU (6-23, 1-7 GWC), the fifth seed in the upcoming Great West Conference Tournament, was led by Shanice Steenholdt, who recorded her 16th double double with 21 points and 16 rebounds. Rachel Arthur scored nine points and had a game-high six steals.

NJIT (14-15, 6-2 GWC), the second seed in the upcoming tournament, was led by Rayven Johnson with 21 points and 11 rebounds. Uju Nwankwo had 12 points and Kimberly Dweck added nine.

HBU started the game where it left off Thursday, outscoring the Highlanders, 11-3, in the first five minutes, as Tayler Jefferson nailed two treys and Steenholdt hit another.

The Huskies never trailed in the first 14 minutes until NJIT used its game-changing run. With HBU leading 20-14 with 8:18 remaining in the first half, NJIT went on a 14-1 run to take a seven point lead, 28-21, with just under five minutes left in the opening half.

The Highlanders' largest lead of the half came twice in the final minute, as NJIT led HBU, 32-23, with 53 seconds remaining. Steenholdt made a jumper to cut the deficit to seven with 44 ticks remaining. After a missed free throw for the three-point play for Steenholdt, NJIT went up the floor and Nicole Maticka made a jumper with 28 seconds left as NJIT led the Huskies at halftime by nine, 34-25.

Steenholdt led HBU at the break with nine points and eight boards, while Johnson paced the Highlanders with nine points and six rebounds.

In the second half, NJIT seemed to always have an answer to any Husky run. The Highlanders opened up the second half with four straight points to take a 13-point lead, 38-25, with 17:28 to go in regulation. The Huskies came as close as nine, 40-31, following a layup by Steenholdt, but that was the closest the Huskies came the rest of the game.

The Highlanders took a 17 point lead following a Sarah Olsen trey, but that was answered with a trey by Maisie Elston at the 5:32 mark to make the score, 56-42 NJIT. The Highlanders' largest lead of the game came after a jumper by Nwankwo, as they led HBU, 62-42, with 3:09 remaining. The Huskies continued to battle, using a 5-1 run to cut the deficit to 14, 63-49, with 34 seconds to go. Alyssa Albanese made two free throws to put the visitors back up by 16, 65-49, for the final scoring of the game.

HBU will play in the GWC Quarterfinal game on Thursday, March 14 at 5 pm against either UT-Pan American or host Chicago State.