Box score

FARMVILLE, VA – Rianna Frazer's three-point shot from the top of the key beat the final buzzer to lift Longwood past NJIT, 72-71, in women's basketball non-conference action Saturday afternoon at Willett Hall.
 
Longwood gained possession of the ball under its own basket with 5.6 seconds remaining after a missed free throw by the Highlanders. Junior Crystal Smith dribbled the ball down the sideline attacking the right lane but was halted by NJIT defenders on the baseline. The guard then found Frazer at the top of the key for the game winning shot.

Frazer's three points on the game-winning shot were her only points of the contest. On top of that, the game-winner was just the second made 3-pointer of the day for the Lancers, who were 1-for-14 from distance before Frazer's fateful basket.
 
The Lancers (4-16) had three double-figure scorers, led by a game-high 22 points from Smith.  Smith grabbed seven rebounds and had four assists, including the pass on the game-winner, for the home team. Junior Erin Neil scored 20 points, shooting 6-for-15 from the field and was 8-of-9 from the free throw line.  Longwood's other double-figure scorer was forward Chelsea Coward,  with 17 points, plus seven rebounds.

 
NJIT (6-11) got a career-high 20 points (17 in the second half) and nine rebounds from freshman Denisa Domiterova. The rookie from Slovakia knocked down six three-pointers, a new season-high for the freshman. 
 
Junior Melanie Griffin posted 14 points and seven rebounds for the Highlanders, while Rayven Johnson added 13 points. Sophomore forward Uju Nwankwo chipped in 10 points and shared game-high rebounding honors with Domiterova, with nine boards.
 
The Highlanders led by as many as 18 in the second half, taking a 57-39 lead with 11:33 left after a three-ball by Domiterova. After both teams traded baskets, Longwood scored the next 10 points pulling within eight of NJIT, 59-51, on a jumper by Smith from the free throw line.
 
NJIT's Johnson put her team back up by double-digits, 61-51, by hitting two free throws at the 7:36 mark, but the Lancers fought back, knocking down consecutive three-point plays and cutting the deficit to four, 61-57.
 
Longwood went on a quick 8-1 spurt sparked by Coward's six points, as the Lancers took their first lead of the second half on a pair of free throws at the 4:17 mark and Smith followed with a jumper for a 65-62 lead, just under four minutes.
 
NJIT scored back-to-back buckets in a span of a minute on a layup by Johnson and a three-pointer by Domiterova, claiming a 67-65 edge with 2:52 left to go. 
 
Longwood's LeeAnn Sullivan sank two free throws with 1:12 left for the sixth tie of the game, but the Highlanders would answer on the next possession on a jumper in the paint by Johnson for a 69-67 lead with 41 seconds remaining.
 
The Lancers knotted the contest for the seventh time on a pair of free throws by Neal, 69-69, and Johnson gave the Highlanders a two-point lead, 71-69, with 17 seconds remaining, sinking two from the free throw line before Frazer's game-winner on the other end of the floor.

NJIT has had five regulation games decided by four points (or fewer) in regulation, plus one overtime game. The Highlanders had won their previous five such games, including 52-48 in their last outing at Penn. But the setback at the buzzer against Longwood dropped NJIT to 5-1 in close games.

The Highlanders, who have been on the road since December 23, will begin conference play next week.  NJIT will travel to Houston Baptist on Thursday, January 19 at 7pm (CT) and Texas-Pan American on Saturday.