Preview: New Hampshire Wildcats at NJIT Highlanders NEWARK, N.J. (Interstat) — The NJIT Highlanders look to solidify their position in the America East standings when they host the New Hampshire Wildcats in a women’s Division I basketball matchup on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. The Highlanders (14-10 overall) enter with a more successful season record and will aim to complete a regular-season sweep after defeating the Wildcats 69-62 in Durham on Jan. 8. NJIT is coming off a narrow 72-67 road loss to Binghamton on Feb. 7, a game in which forward Ava Locklear posted a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Locklear has been a key contributor for NJIT, showcasing versatility with a 16-point, 13-rebound performance in a win over UMass Lowell on Jan. 15 and 17 points against Albany on Jan. 29. Her presence inside will be critical against a New Hampshire team that has struggled offensively at times. The Wildcats (8-15) are seeking to halt a two-game skid, including a 60-35 home loss to Vermont on Feb. 7. Guard Eva DeChent leads New Hampshire, having scored 17 points in two of her last five games, including a key overtime victory at UMass Lowell on Jan. 29. Consistency will be the challenge for DeChent and the Wildcats, who have been held under 50 points in three of their last six contests. This conference clash at the Fleisher Athletic Center pits NJIT’s winning record at home against a New Hampshire squad looking for momentum on the road. The Highlanders’ depth, led by Locklear and guard Alejandra Zuniga (19 points vs. Binghamton), will test a Wildcats defense that has shown resilience in closer games. A win for NJIT would bolster its conference positioning, while New Hampshire aims to level the season series and improve its playoff prospects in the final stretch of the America East schedule. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST.