NEWARK, N.J. (Interstat) — In a Sunday matinee at the Fleisher Athletic Center, the NJIT Highlanders used a dominant second-quarter surge to pull away from the Lafayette Leopards, securing a 71-60 victory in a non-conference women’s basketball game.

A crowd of 279 watched as the Highlanders improved their season record to 7-2, while the Leopards evened theirs at 4-4.

The game was a showcase for NJIT’s offensive firepower, led by a career-high 30 points from Olivia Kulyk. The 6-foot-1 sophomore from Edinboro, Pennsylvania, was efficient and effective, playing 40 minutes and spearheading the Highlanders’ attack. She was complemented by a stellar 20-point, three-assist, two-block performance from Ava Locklear of Tiffin, Iowa.

The contest was tightly contested through the opening period, with NJIT holding a narrow 17-13 lead. The turning point came in the second quarter, where the Highlanders unleashed a 23-point offensive explosion while holding Lafayette to 17. This 10-minute stretch gave NJIT a commanding 40-30 halftime advantage from which the Leopards would never fully recover.

Lafayette fought to stay within reach, matching NJIT’s 13 points in the third quarter and battling throughout the fourth. The Leopards were led by the scoring duo of Teresa Kiewiet and Talia Zurinskas. Kiewiet, a guard from North Mankato, Minnesota, poured in 23 points, while Zurinskas, from Allentown, Pennsylvania, added 18.

Despite the efforts of Kiewiet and Zurinskas, Lafayette could not overcome NJIT’s interior dominance and playmaking. The Highlanders outscored the Leopards 34-22 in the paint, a testament to their ability to score at the rim. NJIT’s offense was expertly orchestrated by point guard Allison Cannon, who delivered a complete performance with 14 points and 11 assists, registering a double-double from her Holmdel, New Jersey, hometown.

Lafayette did find some success in converting NJIT’s mistakes, scoring 16 points off turnovers compared to just seven for the Highlanders. Defensively, Lafayette’s Maddison Krug was a presence in the paint, recording three blocks.

The game’s opening moments were a sloppy affair, with both teams struggling to find an offensive rhythm. NJIT missed its first seven field goal attempts before Ava Locklear finally broke the ice with a 3-pointer assisted by Cannon nearly 90 seconds into the game. That basket sparked the Highlanders, who quickly built a small lead they would not relinquish.

Kulyk’s scoring was consistent throughout, but her third-quarter jumper and a crucial fourth-quarter 3-pointer helped stifle any significant Lafayette rally. Every time the Leopards threatened to cut the deficit to single digits, NJIT had an answer, often from Kulyk, Locklear, or via a timely assist from Cannon.

The loss snaps a three-game winning streak for Lafayette, which had posted impressive road victories over Pittsburgh, Wagner, and Saint Francis (PA) in its recent outings. NJIT, meanwhile, continues its strong start to the season, having now won four of its last five games.

Looking ahead, Lafayette will seek to return to the win column on the road against Fairleigh Dickinson on Wednesday. NJIT also hits the road for its next contest, traveling to face Monmouth on Wednesday.