NEWARK, NJ--NJIT will look to bounce back into the win column, welcoming Vermont on Sunday at 4pm and Monday at 2pm inside NJIT's Wellness and Events Center in America East Conference action.
Game Information
The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ with in-game statistics available on www.NJITHighlanders.com.
A simple way to find ESPN+ is on NJIT's official athletics website, www.njithighlanders.com. Near the middle of the home page under the headlines section, an upcoming events calendar lists scheduled NJIT contests. After finding the event, click the camera icon to the left of the event listing. That brings you to an ESPN+ portal where you can access the desired program.
No Spectators Allowed at Wellness and Events Center
No spectators will not be permitted inside the Wellness and Events Center this season due to the impact of COVID-19.
All-Time Series
Vermont leads the all-time series 4-0.
Last season, Vermont defeated NJIT 65-59 in Burlington on December 14, 2019. NJIT was led by senior forward Danielle Tunstall's 21 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the field and 6-of-9 from the free throw line. Tunstall grabbed a game-best eight rebounds as the Highlanders out-rebounded Vermont 32-to-29 on the boards.
In the Catamounts' last trip to Newark, Vermont won 71-63 over the Highlanders on December 2, 2018.
Last Time Out for NJIT
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.
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.
Scouting Report: NJIT Highlanders
NJIT enters this weekend with a 1-5 overall mark, 1-1 in the America East Conference. The Highlanders picked up its first-ever win in the America East at New Hampshire, 78-59, on December 5. Four of the Highlanders five losses have been decided by six points or less.
Sophomore guard Kenna Squier leads the team in scoring with 10.8 points-per game. She is also the team leader in assists (3.0 APG) and steals (1.0 SPG).
Seven Highlanders have made 38.5% or better of their shots from downtown. NJIT is led by senior captain Ellyn Stoll with 10 three-pointers.
2020 Highlander Outlook
Head coach Mike Lane begins his third season at the helm of the Highlanders, after spending six seasons at Bucknell University as the top assistant coach, where he helped guide the Bison to a program-best 27-6 mark, Patriot League title and conference championship while earning a berth to the NCAA Tournament in 2017.
Veteran Ellyn Stoll will enter her senior campaign with 749 career points. Last season, she ranked third on the team at 8.8ppg, including 10 double-digit scoring contests with a career-best 25 points at Kennesaw State (2.29.20). The 5-foot-9 guard paced the Highlanders with 49 three-point field goals.
Redshirt junior Kimi Evans, who played two seasons at Seton Hall, practiced with the Highlanders in 2019-20, but did not compete under NCAA Division I transfer rules. Kimi joins younger sister Dani Evans on the court for the upcoming basketball season.
Sophomore Kenna Squier, an 2020 ASUN All-Freshman team honoree, averaged 10.9 ppg in her first season at NJIT. She registered 16 double-digit games, including the last six-out-of-10 contests and one career double-double (21pts, 10rebs) in NJIT's win over Saint Peter's. Her 80 assists topped the team, including a career-best eight assists at Lipscomb.
Fresh Faces
The Highlanders have added six new faces ahead of the 2020-21 season. All six are true freshmen: Lindsey Syrek, Grace Plummer, Aria Myers, Kiana Brereton, Lyzi Litwinko and Lilly Anderson.
New Home for Highlanders in 2020-21
The 2020-21 season will feature NJIT's first season as a member of the America East Conference. The Highlanders, who became the 10th full member of the America East effective July 1, 2020, will play a full basketball double round‐robin schedule of 18 conference games against the other nine 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.
NJIT departs the ASUN Conference after five seasons as a member (first season 2015-16), which marked the first time that the Highlanders had been a full member of an automatic qualifying NCAA Division I multisport conference.
Scouting Report: Vermont
Vermont comes to NJIT with a 1-1 overall mark and 1-1 mark in the America East with its lone win over UMass Lowell, 61-56, on December 20.
Forward Anna Olson was named America East Rookie of the Week after an impressive debut weekend against UMass Lowell for the Catamounts. Olson earned her first career double-double on Sunday with 11 points and 10 rebounds in Vermont's 61-56 win over the River Hawks.
Follow Us
Stay up to date during the 2020-21 NJIT women's basketball season by following @NJITWBB on Twitter and Instagram and liking the NJIT Women's Basketball page on Facebook.
