POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. (Interstat) — Marissa Gingrich made one of two free throws with 15.2 seconds remaining, and NJIT held off Marist for a 67-63 victory Sunday at McCann Recreation Center. The visiting Highlanders improved to 3-0, while the Red Foxes fell to 0-3. Attendance was 979. Gingrich’s late free throw capped a tense finish after Marist had trimmed a double-digit deficit to three points in the final two minutes. NJIT finished with 67 points on 68 possessions and an offensive rating of 99.1. Marist scored 63 points on 71 possessions and had an offensive rating of 88.7.

The teams traded baskets early. Karly Fischer opened the scoring with a layup for Marist, but Mia Gestosani answered with driving layups on consecutive NJIT possessions. Justine Henry made a turnaround jumper for the Red Foxes, and she later made two pairs of free throws. Marissa Gingrich hit a 3-pointer to tie the score at 7, Claudia Clement Marsan made a layup for Marist, and Gingrich answered with another 3-pointer. Kasey Bretones made a layup, Carly Sweazie connected from 3-point range, and Piper Engelby added a 3-pointer to give NJIT a 16-11 lead. Catie Klemm’s pullup jumper for Marist made it 16-13 after the first quarter.

Marist took momentum early in the second quarter. Madison Ohm drove for a layup, and Henry hit a turnaround jumper to put the Red Foxes ahead 17-16. Olivia O’Meally made free throws to move NJIT back ahead, and Gingrich added a driving layup. Fischer made two free throws for Marist, but Gingrich answered with a 3-pointer. Henry made two free throws, Chloe Escanillas hit a 3-pointer to give Marist a 24-23 edge, and Addison Shen made a layup for NJIT. Bretones made a floating jump shot for Marist, but Madilyn Dogs made a free throw and a layup to help the Highlanders regain the lead. Morgan Tompkins tied the score at 28 for Marist just before halftime.

NJIT created separation in the third quarter. Engelby made 3-pointers on consecutive possessions early in the period, and Kate Donovan added a layup. Ryan Oldaker made a layup for Marist, but Ava Locklear made two free throws, Gingrich hit another 3-pointer, and Gestosani scored on a layup and two free throws. Dogs made a layup, and Engelby knocked down another 3-pointer as the Highlanders built a 54-38 lead. Henry answered with a 3-pointer and two free throws for Marist, and Bretones made a layup at the end of the quarter to cut NJIT’s lead to 54-42.

Marist continued its comeback in the fourth quarter. Bretones made a layup, Clement Marsan made a jump shot and a layup, and Ohm made two free throws and a driving layup to help the Red Foxes close within 56-53. NJIT responded with layups from Mackenzie Wright-Rawls and a 3-pointer by Gingrich. Julia Corsentino made a 3-pointer and a jumper for Marist, and Fischer’s layup trimmed the Highlanders’ lead to 63-60 with 2:07 remaining. Locklear made a free throw and Gestosani made a layup to push NJIT’s advantage to 66-60. Bretones made a layup and a free throw to bring Marist within 66-63, but Gingrich’s free throw with 15.2 seconds left sealed the outcome.

NJIT shot 23 of 55 from the floor, 11 of 26 from 3-point range and 10 of 16 from the free throw line. Marist shot 22 of 56 overall, 3 of 14 from beyond the arc and 16 of 19 from the line. The Highlanders had six offensive rebounds, 10 assists, three blocks and 11 turnovers. The Red Foxes had 10 offensive rebounds, five assists and 16 turnovers. NJIT scored 24 points in the paint and 15 points off turnovers. Marist scored 28 points in the paint and seven points off turnovers.

Marist forward Justine Henry, a 6-foot native of Freeport, N.Y., who previously played at Mary Louis Academy, finished with 34 minutes, 18 points, 13 rebounds and one assist. Red Foxes guard Kasey Bretones, a 5-foot-11 player from Mainland Regional, added 34 minutes, 11 points, eight rebounds and five assists. NJIT guard Madilyn Dogs, a 6-foot player from Kewaskum, had 27 minutes, seven points, six rebounds, two assists and one block. Highlanders forward Ava Locklear, a 5-foot-11 player from Clear Creek Amana High School, contributed 24 minutes, three points, six rebounds, four assists and one block. NJIT guard Piper Engelby, a 5-foot-10 player from Andover Senior, posted 33 minutes, 16 points, two rebounds and one block. Highlanders guard Marissa Gingrich, a 5-foot-7 player from Mifflin County, had 30 minutes, 18 points, one rebound and two assists. NJIT guard Mia Gestosani, a 5-foot-8 player from Mount Saint Mary Academy, added 18 minutes, 10 points and two rebounds. Highlanders guard Carly Sweazie, a 5-foot-7 player from Bishop O’Connell High School, chipped in 11 minutes, three points, four rebounds and two assists. Marist guard Madison Ohm tallied 31 minutes, seven points, three rebounds and one assist, and Red Foxes forward Claudia Clement Marsan had 17 minutes, six points, two rebounds and one assist.

NJIT entered after wins over Merrimack and Rider. Marist entered after losses to Bryant and Drexel. The Highlanders next visit Lafayette and then play at Dartmouth. The Red Foxes next visit Duquesne and then host Lafayette.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of NJIT 59, Marist 56. Interstat’s ELO system had projected NJIT with a 72.9 percent probability to win.