Feb. 28, 2008

OREM, UT - NJIT freshman guard Jessica Gerald and Chicago State's Courtney Waldon were named Division I Independent Co-Newcomer of the Week, Clint Burgi of Utah Valley announced.

Chicago State's junior guard Jasmin Dixon and Longwood's forward Amber Sims shared Co-Player of the Week honors.

Gerald, a six-time Newcomer of the Week award winner, helped NJIT to an 82-72 win over Utah Valley in its only game of the week. She led six Highlanders in double-figures with 16 points.

The win by NJIT is all the more impressive considering the fact that Utah Valley came into the contest with a record of 15-7 and the Wolverines had twice defeated NJIT by 31-point margins in the first season of competition between the two schools.

Waldon, who was instrumental in Chicago State's 86-60 rout of Utah Valley, scoring a game-high 16 points, hauled down eight rebounds and dished out four assists. She hit 4-of-6 from behind the arc.

The weekly independent awards are nominated and voted on by sports information directors at nine NCAA Division I Independent schools.

The Highlanders return to action on Sunday when they travel to Farmville, VA to take on Longwood at 2pm.