NEWARK, N.J. - The Monmouth University women's basketball team defeated The New Jersey Institute of Technology 58-54 Tuesday night in Newark, N.J. The win improves MU's record to 11-7 and drops the Highlanders to 3-15.

MU had their once double-digit lead whittled down to 52-48 at the 1:13 mark before Brooke McElroy (Chesterfield, Md./Thomas Dale) and Veronica Randolph (Deerfield Beach, Fla./Deerfield Beach) each hit a pair of free throws to seal the win.

Lindsey Zegowitz (Dasmascus, Md./Damascus) led the Hawks with a team-high 11 points and added six rebounds, while Randolph pulled down a career-high 12 boards. Nyaimah Ware (Washington, D.C./Dunbar) and Marisa Jimenez (Carteret, N.J./Carteret) each added nine points for the Hawks as well. 

The Hawks held an early five-point advantage 15-10 at the 11:42 mark following six straight points from Jimenez.

MU maintained their lead at 23-17 with 7:45 remaining before halftime following five straight Charisse Johnson (Stroudsburg, Pa./East Stroudsburg) points, the final three being a triple from the right wing.

The Hawks held a slim 30-28 lead at the half behind six points from Jimenez and five apiece from Nyaimah Ware and Johnson. MU outrebounded NJIT 24-8 at the half, including 13-2 on the offensive glass, but committed 12 turnovers in the first half.

The Highlanders took their first lead since 2-0 after Kate Piekielski drained a top of the key three-pointer out of the half to give NJIT a 33-32 lead with 16:14 left in the game.

MU regained the lead at 43-38 following a Brooke McElroy three-pointer from the left wing and  LaKia Barber (Clinton, Md./Gwynn Park) lay-up with 11:48 left in the second half.  The Hawks pushed the lead to 47-40 following a Randolph three-pointer at the 6:40 mark.

The Hawks return to action on Saturday, January 27 when they host Northeast Conference foe Robert Morris at 3 p.m. in the first game of a doubleheader with the men's team and the Colonials, which will tip at 7 p.m.

Pictured: Junior Lindsey Zegowitz