University of New Hampshire Athletics
University of New Hampshire
1-0, 0-0AE
New Jersey Institute of Technology
0-1Independent
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| NJIT | 25 | 31 | 56 |
| New Hampshire | 30 | 31 | 61 |
Gaston's Double-Double Leads Women's Basketball Past NJIT, 61-56
11/14/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
DURHAM, N.H. -- Senior guard Ariel Gaston (Toledo, Ohio) notched a double-double with 16 points and a career-high 12 rebounds to power the University of New Hampshire women's basketball team to Friday afternoon's 61-56 non-conference victory against New Jersey Institute of Technology in front of an Education Day crowd of 2,057 at Lundholm Gymnasium.
UNH wins its fourth consecutive season opener while NJIT drops the first game of the 2014-15 campaign.
Gaston was 4 of 9 from the field, including 7 of 8 from the free throw line. Classmate Sarah-Marie Frankenberger (Gross Gerau, Germany) registered a career-high 17 points, also scoring 4 of 9 from the floor and 7 of 8 from the charity stripe. Senior forward Kaylee Kilpatrick (Saint John, New Brunswick) pitched in 15 points, four rebounds and two blocks.
Sophomore forward Leah Horton led the Highlanders with a double-double effort of 16 points and 10 boards. Seniors Martina Matejcikova and Alyssa Albanese pitched in nine points apiece.
New Hampshire converted 18 of 47 shots from the floor to post a .383 field goal percentage. NJIT shot 20 of 54 from the field to register a .370 clip. The Highlanders outrebounded the Wildcats, 39-35.
Horton opened up the scoring in the game with a layup for NJIT, but New Hampshire owned an 8-4 edge early. The Wildcats increased their lead to eight at 17-9, fueled by a pair of 3-pointers from Frankenberger with 8:57 remaining in the first half.
UNH managed to extend its lead to double digits at 24-13 as jumpers from Morgan Bassett-Smith (Pickerington, Ohio) and Kristen Anderson (Greene, Maine) fell at 6:03 and 5:09 respectively.
New Hampshire looked to preserve its largest lead of the game entering halftime. However, the Highlanders surged back with a 12-6 run in the last 5:09 of the frame to trail 30-25 into the break.
Gaston resumed the scoring for UNH after halftime, draining a trey to give the home team a 33-25 lead. New Hampshire upped its advantage to nine points at 41-32, receiving scoring contributions from Frankenberger, Gaston and Kilpatrick. However, the Highlanders bolted back with a 9-2 run, elapsing 5 minutes and 30 seconds to trail 43-42 with 10:05 left on the clock.
Freshman guard Bianca Picard bolstered the run, draining a shot from beyond the arc to give the Highlanders their first lead of the game, 45-43.
The two sides continued to trade the lead as the score rose to 55 apiece with 1:32 left on the clock.
Kilpatrick threw up a layup to break the deadlock on the ensuing possession. Horton managed to draw a fifth foul on Kilpatrick, sending the forward to the bench and getting to the free throw line for the opportunity to tie the match for the seventh time in the game. The sophomore forward converted her first free throw, but her second attempt rimmed out.
The Wildcats ran down the clock to 29 seconds left as Gaston heaved a trey from the left side. Freshman center Carlie Pogue (Cincinnati, Ohio) managed to corral the missed shot and get to the charity stripe as well. Pogue converted one free throw as NJIT gained possession for a final chance. Horton drove into the paint, looking to tie the game. However, Gaston smothered the loose ball and was fouled, sending her to the free throw line. The senior guard converted her free throws to seal the deal for the Wildcats for the first win of the season.
New Hampshire returns to action Tuesday, Nov. 18 (5 p.m.) at Howard University. The Wildcats are back at Lundholm Gymnasium on Saturday, Nov. 22 (7 p.m.), clashing with Brown University.
For tickets, visit UNHWildcats.com/tickets or call (603) 862-400.
Check out UNHWildcats.com or follow the Wildcats via social media on Facebook (www.facebook.com/UNHWildcats), Twitter (@UNHWildcats), YouTube (www.youtube.com/UNHAthletics) and Instagram (@UNHWildcats) for the latest news and information on all 20 varsity sports. For additional information on the UNH women's basketball team, follow the 'Cats on Twitter (@UNHHoops) and Instagram (@unhwbb).
