Jan. 16, 2008

OREM, UT - NJIT women's basketball players Taiwo Oyelola and Jessica Gerald swept the Division I Independent women's basketball weekly honors, award coordinator Clint Burgi of Utah Valley announced.

After leading the Highlanders to a perfect 2-0 record last week, Oyelola was honored as Player of the Week while freshman Gerald tabbed Newcomer of the Week for the second time this season. This marks the first time this season that one team has won both awards in a single week.

In NJIT's first road win of the season Oyelola posted a career-high 20-point outburst, which came in 28 minutes of action, including 7-for-15 shooting from the field, while shooting a perfect 5-for-5 from the free throw line and sharing game-high honors with teammate Jackie McCaffrey with six rebounds.

Oyelola's 20 points were two-shy of tying NJIT's women's basketball Division I record of 22 points set by teammate Jill Dickinson last year.

In another fine effort by Oyelola against California State University, Bakersfield, as she chipped in 10 points and a career-high 12 rebounds for her second double-double of the season. She paced the Highlanders dominance on the backboards, where they outrebounded the Rodarunners, 51-34.

Taiwo's 12 rebounds against the Roadrunners were a personal career high and an NJIT season high--one shy NJIT's I record of 13 rebounds set by Aine O'Dwyer last year against Lafayette.

Rookie Gerald exploded for a school-record 37 points, pacing NJIT to a 76-61 neutral-site win over California State University, Bakersfield.

Gerald, who played 29 minutes off the Highlander bench, shot a sizzling 13-for-16 from the field, including 3-for-5 on three-pointers, plus 8 of 11 at the foul line for her record scoring line.

Her 37-point outburst was the highest single-game total in the 21-season history of NJIT women's basketball, surpassing Sharon Kukal, who scored 35 against Queens on January 28, 1998, when the Highlanders competed in NCAA Division II.

Naturally, Gerald's 37 points eclipsed the NJIT Division I mark of 22 points, set by Jill Dickinson against Lafayette on December 28, 2006 in the Highlanders' first season of Division I competition.

The Highlanders will host fellow Division I Independent Longwood on Saturday at 2 pm in the Estelle and Zoom Fleisher Athletic Center.