NEW YORK (Interstat) — In a stunning upset defying heavy pregame odds, the NJIT Highlanders women’s basketball team remained undefeated by outlasting the Fordham Rams 82-78 in a non-conference thriller Friday night at a raucous Rose Hill Gym.

Interstat’s ELO system had projected Fordham with an 83.8 percent probability to win, but the Highlanders, fueled by a dominant second quarter and a career-high scoring performance from Olivia Kulyk, never trailed in the second half to improve their record to 2-0. Fordham fell to 1-1 with the loss.

The game was a tale of contrasting quarters and a dramatic fourth-period rally that ultimately fell short for the home team. NJIT established an early rhythm, taking a 16-18 lead after a fast-paced first quarter. The game’s pivotal shift came in the second period, where the Highlanders’ defense clamped down, holding the Rams to a mere 10 points while their own offense exploded for 26. This 16-point swing sent NJIT into the halftime break with a commanding 42-28 advantage.

Fordham emerged from the locker room with renewed vigor, chipping away at the deficit throughout the third quarter. The Rams outscored the Highlanders 23-15 in the frame, cutting the lead to just six points heading into the final 10 minutes. The comeback effort continued in the fourth, with Fordham’s offense reaching its peak by pouring in 27 points. However, NJIT answered nearly every basket, matching Fordham’s intensity with 25 points of their own in a high-scoring final stanza to seal the victory.

The individual duel between NJIT’s Olivia Kulyk and Fordham’s Alexis Black was a spectacle unto itself. Kulyk, a native of Edinboro, Pennsylvania, was virtually unstoppable, leading all scorers with 25 points while adding six rebounds and a block in 36 minutes of action. Her efficiency and clutch shooting were instrumental in holding off Fordham’s repeated charges.

Not to be outdone, Fordham’s Alexis Black of Washington, D.C., delivered a heroic performance in the losing effort, scoring 30 points in just 30 minutes on the floor. She also contributed three rebounds and three assists, spearheading the Rams’ second-half surge.

NJIT’s victory was a product of a balanced and disciplined offensive attack. Marissa Gingrich of Mifflin, Pennsylvania, provided crucial secondary scoring and playmaking, finishing with 16 points, six rebounds, five assists and a block. Point guard Alejandra Zuniga, from Madrid, Spain, orchestrated the offense masterfully, dishing out a team-high seven assists to go along with 12 points and six rebounds. The Highlanders’ bench also provided a key spark, with Ava Locklear of Tiffin, Iowa, contributing seven points and two assists in 16 minutes.

For Fordham, the effort was led by Black, but she received significant support in the paint. Kaila Berry, a hometown product from Brooklyn, New York, was a force on the glass, pulling down seven rebounds to go with eight points and a block. Emma Wilson-Saltos of the Bronx, New York, also recorded a double-digit scoring effort with 11 points and five rebounds. The Rams showcased their depth with Carryn Easley (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) handing out five assists and Ugne Sirtautaite (Kaunas, Lithuania) grabbing seven rebounds in just 12 minutes of play.

The victory continues a strong start to the 2025-26 campaign for NJIT, which opened its season with a 64-51 road win at Sacred Heart on Monday. Fordham had begun its season on a positive note as well, defeating Adelphi 60-51 on the same day, but was unable to contain the Highlanders’ multifaceted offense in their home opener.

NJIT will look to build on its perfect start when it returns home to host Wagner on Tuesday, November 11. The Highlanders will then embark on a two-game road trip to Minnesota and Saint Thomas (Minn.) later that week.

Fordham, meanwhile, must regroup quickly as it faces a busy schedule ahead. The Rams will stay at home to host Saint Peter’s on Monday, November 10, followed by a visit from Stony Brook on Wednesday, November 12. A road game at Buffalo awaits on Sunday, November 16.

In a game defined by runs, the NJIT Highlanders made the most significant one in the second quarter and then displayed the poise necessary to withstand a furious Fordham rally, securing a statement road victory to open the young season.