VIDEO: NJIT Highlights vs. Rider | 12.23.20
Post Game Report with Coach Lane
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NEWARK, NJ--Visiting Rider was led by a game-best 20 points from Maya Hyacienth, pacing the Broncs to their first win of the 2019 season, topping NJIT, 57-53, in non-conference women's basketball action on Wednesday afternoon inside NJIT's Wellness and Events Center.
Rider (1-8) outscored NJIT in the second quarter (15-11) and fourth quarter (19-13) while taking its biggest lead of the game in the final period, six, 50-45, with 3:26 to play.
In addition to Hyacienth's 20 points, Daija Moses combined for 15 points on 5-of-8 from three-point range and 11 points from Makayla Firebaugh. Firebaugh led all players with seven rebounds.
NJIT was led by one double-figure scorer Dani Evans, who registered 10 points (seven coming in the first half) followed by two-time America East Conference Rookie of the Week Lyzi Litwinko (9 points), Kenna Squier and Kiana Brereton with eight points. Brereton went a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line
On the glass, the Highlanders edged the Broncs, 45-to-41, led by Kimi Evans with six rebounds while guards Litwinko and Squier grabbed five each.
NJIT scored the first five points of the contest and held a 10-9 lead into the first media timeout, paced by Evans with seven of NJIT's first 10 points. NJIT closed out the final four minutes on a 5-0 run, extending its lead to 15-9 after the first 10.
After a basket to start the second quarter for Rider, NJIT went on an 11-2 run pushing the Highlander lead to 13, 26-13. Brereton paced the home team with eight points.
Rider answered with a run of their own, scoring the next 10 consecutive, cutting the Highlander deficit to two, 26-24, heading into the half.
At the break, Kiana Brereton led all players at the half with eight points followed by seven from Evans. Rider's Firebaugh posted seven points.
NJIT scored eight straight to open up the second half as the Highlanders extended its lead to double-digits, 10, 34-24, resulting in a Rider timeout. The Broncs closed the gap to two, 40-38, behind a 14-6 run, thanks to six points apiece from Moses and Hyacienth to close the third stanza.
Rider took its first lead of the game, 42-41, at the 9:02 mark of the fourth quarter after a trey ball from Firebaugh and went on a 8-1 run for a 50-44 lead with 3:26 to go. NJIT's Kimi Evans jumper in the paint sparked a 5-0 spurt for the Highlanders, cutting the deficit to one, 50-49, with 1:40 on the clock. Rider's Moses connected on her fifth three-pointer from the top of the key to give the Broncs a 53-49 lead. Lyzi Litwinko scored a quick basket out of the timeout for NJIT with 31.7 left on the clock, slimming the lead to three, 54-51. NJIT scored the next three points for a two-point game, 55-53, with :20 seconds but Rider held on for the 57-53 victory, connecting on a pair of free throws with less than five seconds to go for their first win of the season.
After the Christmas Holiday, NJIT will open up America East Conference action on home inside NJIT's Wellness and Events Center, welcoming Vermont. The two teams will play on Sunday, December 27 at 4pm and Monday, December 28 at 2pm. Both games will be streamed live on ESPN+.
NJIT will play a full basketball double round‐robin schedule of 18 conference games against the other nine America East schools. The schedule format consists of weekend series (Saturday and Sunday) where a team hosts the same opponent on back‐to‐back days for two games.
