Preview: UMBC Retrievers at NJIT Highlanders Women’s Basketball

NEWARK, N.J. (Interstat) — A quick rematch with America East Conference positioning at stake unfolds Thursday when the NJIT Highlanders host the UMBC Retrievers in a women’s Division I basketball game at Fleisher Athletic Center.

Just three weeks after their first meeting, the teams reconvene with NJIT (13-6, 4-2 America East) looking to solidify its hold near the top of the conference and UMBC (8-9, 3-3) aiming to level its league record and avenge a narrow home loss.

The Highlanders won the Jan. 1 matchup in Baltimore, 80-75, in a game that featured 13 lead changes. NJIT has since won three of its last four, most recently a 78-65 road victory at Bryant on Saturday. Olivia Kulyk scored 23 points in that win and has been a consistent force, averaging 17.1 points per game over her last seven contests. She is complemented by guard Alejandra Zuniga, who erupted for 27 points and four assists against Bryant.

UMBC arrives with momentum from a two-game winning streak, including a 64-58 victory over Binghamton on Saturday. The Retrievers are led by dynamic guard Jade Tillman, who torched NJIT for 25 points in the first meeting. Tillman is averaging 20.1 points over her last seven games, scoring 21 or more in four of them. Her backcourt pairing with Heidi Williams, who had 17 points against Binghamton, provides a potent scoring tandem.

NJIT’s strength lies in its balanced offense and home-court advantage, where it is 7-2 this season. UMBC, however, has shown resilience on the road in conference play, securing a key win at New Hampshire on Jan. 10.

The outcome could hinge on which team controls the tempo and limits the other’s star guard. Containing Tillman will be a primary focus for the Highlanders’ defense, while UMBC must find an answer for NJIT’s multifaceted attack led by Kulyk.

Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. EST on Thursday, Jan. 22. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.