NEWARK, N.J. (Interstat) — In a grinding America East Conference defensive struggle, the NJIT Highlanders used a decisive third-quarter surge and clutch late free throws to secure a 55-47 victory over the New Hampshire Wildcats in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game on Thursday night at Fleisher Athletic Center.

The game, a rematch of a Jan. 8 meeting also won by NJIT, was defined by offensive droughts and pivotal runs. New Hampshire, which led 30-31 at halftime after a back-and-forth first half, was undone by a catastrophic third quarter in which it managed only six points. That dry spell allowed the Highlanders to seize control for good.

NJIT’s Allison Cannon, a junior guard from Holmdel, New Jersey, was the engine for the home team, scoring a game-high 17 points while adding three blocks and two assists in 38 minutes. Her backcourt partner, sophomore Alejandra Zuniga of Madrid, Spain, provided crucial support with 16 points and three assists, also playing 38 minutes. Their combined persistence broke down a stubborn Wildcats defense.

New Hampshire was led by Maggie Cavanaugh, a sophomore from Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey, who scored 16 points and dished out four assists. Eva DeChent, a junior from Westchester, New York, added 13 points. The Wildcats’ offense, however, stalled completely after halftime, shooting just 2-of-13 from the floor in the third period as NJIT built a 45-36 lead.

The most critical sequence of the game occurred late in the third quarter with NJIT holding a 38-36 edge. Over the final 2:26, the Highlanders closed the period on a 7-0 run. It began with a Zuniga 3-pointer off an assist from Cannon, followed by a key defensive stop. After a New Hampshire turnover, Olivia Kulyk was fouled with seven seconds left and calmly sank both free throws to extend the lead to nine, the largest of the game to that point. That run provided the cushion NJIT would rely on in the final frame.

New Hampshire fought to close the gap in the fourth quarter, pulling within 49-47 on a Carolina Williams layup with 4:19 remaining. But the Wildcats would not score again. The Highlanders clamped down defensively, forcing three missed shots and two turnovers on New Hampshire’s final five possessions.

With the outcome still in doubt in the final minute, NJIT sealed the win at the foul line. After a missed Wildcats 3-pointer, Cannon hit one of two free throws with 29 seconds left for a 53-47 lead. Following another New Hampshire miss, Marissa Gingrich was fouled and sank both of her attempts with 14 seconds remaining to provide the final margin.

The Wildcats, who entered the game with a Interstat ELO projection giving them just a 16.9 percent chance to win, outperformed that expectation but ultimately fell short due to their prolonged scoring lapse. They held advantages in points in the paint, 32-26, but were hampered by 18 turnovers.

NJIT improved to 15-10 overall and strengthened its position in the America East standings. New Hampshire fell to 8-16, dropping its second straight game.

The Highlanders’ defense was anchored by rim protection, tallying nine blocks as a team. Kulyk, a 6-foot-1 forward from Edinboro, Pennsylvania, had two blocks to go with nine points, while Ava Locklear of Tiffin, Iowa, also recorded two blocks.

For New Hampshire, Kenzie Matulonis of Raynham, Massachusetts, contributed three steals and two blocks in a strong defensive effort, but the team’s offensive execution faltered when it mattered most.

The game was attended by 278 fans. NJIT will look to continue its momentum at home against Maine on Saturday. New Hampshire travels to face Maryland-Baltimore County, also on Saturday.