NJIT Highlights at Maine | 1.10.21

ORONO, ME--Freshman Lilly Anderson registered her first career double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds but it wasn't enough as Maine swept the weekend America East Conference series from NJIT with a 74-51 victory Sunday afternoon in women's basketball action at Lundholm Gymnasium.

Maine moves to 8-1 overall, 5-1 in the America East after a pair of victories over the weekend -- a 77-60 win on Saturday and 74-51 win on Sunday.  

"I liked our effort and I thought we were determined today," third-year head coach Mike Lane commented post game. "We stayed fighting but unfortunately it wasn't enough."

The Black Bears had four players reach double-figures led by Blanca Millian, who ranks 15th in the nation in scoring, with 21 points and team-best seven rebounds.  Maeve Carroll combined for 14 points, eight assists, six rebounds followed by Dor Saar with 13 points, eight assists and five rebounds and Kelly Fogarty with 12 points, shooting 4-for-7 from three-point range.

NJIT (2-10 overall, 2-6 America East) was paced by freshman forward Lilly Anderson's career-best 17 points, which surpassed her old mark of 11 against Maine on Saturday.  Her 10 rebounds, a game-best, was one-shy her personal-best mark (11 vs. UMass Lowell; 1.2.21).  Anderson finished 6-for-8 from the field and 3-of-4 from three-point range.

Sophomore Kenna Squier was the Highlanders' other double-figure scorer with 13 points followed by six points from senior Ellyn Stoll and freshman Aria Myers.

Maine finished the game shooting 43.9 percent from the field (25-for-75), 52.6 percent from downtown (10-for-19) and 70 percent from the free throw line (14-for-20).  NJIT finished 61.1 percent from the free throw line (11-for-18) and held an edge on the boards, 36-to-35, paced by Anderson's 10 rebounds.

Maine picked up where they left off Saturday, scoring the first six points of the contest.  Lyzi Litwinko got the Highlanders on the board with a full court layup and Anderson connected with a three-pointer from the top of the arc, cutting the lead to four, 9-5, at the 7:23 mark.  Sparked by a jumper by Squier, the Highlanders closed out the quarter on a 5-2 run, capped by a three-pointer by Stoll, pulling within six of Maine, 20-14.

NJIT closed the Maine gap to eight, 29-21, after a pair of three-pointers from Myes and Squier.  Over the next six minutes, Maine used a 5-0 run to take a 13-point lead 34-21, heading into the half.

Fogarty led all players after the first 20 minutes with nine points, on 3-for-4 from three-point range while NJIT's Squier combined for five points and Litwinko paced NJIT on the glass with four rebounds.

Maine scored the opening six points of the third period, extending the Black Bear lead to 19, 40-21 but the Highlanders went on a short run, 5-2, on a driving layup by Anderson and deep three-pointer from Stoll for a 41-26 score with less than six to play.  The Black Bears pushed its lead to 21, 49-28, behind an 8-2 run.  

In the final minute, NJIT's Anderson, coming into her own, sank her second trey ball of the game from the top of the arc while Squier connected on a pair of free throws as the two teams headed into the final 10 minutes.

The Highlanders scored 18 fourth-quarter points and cut the Black Bear deficit to as many as 16, 67-51, after one-of-two made from the free throw line by Anderson at the 2:22 mark.  Maine scored the final seven points of the contest and cruised to a 74-51 victory over the Highlanders.

NJIT will return to action next weekend when the Highlanders host Albany on January 16-17 inside NJIT's Wellness and Events Center.  Saturday's game is slated for 4pm and Sunday at 2pm.  Both games will be streamed on ESPN+.