NEWARK, N.J. (Interstat) — The Fairleigh Dickinson Knights delivered a dominant defensive performance on Tuesday night, cruising to a lopsided victory over the NJIT Highlanders in a non-conference women’s basketball game at the Fleisher Athletic Center.

Ava Renninger scored 20 points to lead the Knights, who improved to 4-3 on the season. Kailee McDonald added 17 points for Fairleigh Dickinson, which never trailed and built a commanding 22-point lead by halftime.

The Knights set the tone early, opening the game on a 14-2 run and finishing the first quarter with a 22-10 advantage. Their defensive pressure was relentless, forcing 16 turnovers while committing only nine. Fairleigh Dickinson capitalized on those mistakes, scoring 19 points off turnovers compared to just two for the Highlanders.

The offensive struggles were profound for NJIT, which shot just 37% from the field and a meager 23% from three-point range. The Highlanders, who entered the game with a 6-1 record, managed only 10 points in each of the first two quarters and could not mount a challenge after the break. The loss drops NJIT to 6-2.

Fairleigh Dickinson’s efficiency was evident as they scored 71 points on 65 possessions for an offensive rating of 109.7. In stark contrast, NJIT managed only 43 points on 64 possessions, resulting in an offensive rating of 66.8.

The Knights also controlled the glass, out-rebounding the Highlanders 16-5 on the offensive end, which led to numerous second-chance opportunities.

Rebecca Osei-Owusu contributed six points, three assists and a block for Fairleigh Dickinson. Marissa Gingrich led NJIT with nine points, while Avery O’Roke and Olivia Kulyk each added eight.

The Knights will look to build on the win when they host Monmouth on Saturday. NJIT will aim to rebound at home against Lafayette on Sunday.