NEWARK, NJ--Coming off the programs first Big Ten victory at Wisconsin on Sunday, November 14, the NJIT women's basketball team will look to keep their momentum going into Thursday's non-conference contest against LIU inside NJIT's Wellness and Events Center.

Game Information
The next three games on the Highlander schedule will be against teams from the Northeast Conference.  

Tip-off is slated for 7pm inside NJIT's Wellness and Events Center and for those not able to attend the game can watch via ESPN+ with in-game statistics available on NJITHighlanders.com.

All-Time Series
NJIT leads the all-time series 5-3. The Highlanders have won the last three out of four contests, including a 72-51 win on December 8, 2018.
12/8/18 - NJIT 72, LIU 51
11/29/07 - LIU 67, NJIT 49
11/26/16 - NJIT 50, LIU 48
12/9/15 - NJIT 53, LIU 44

Last Time Out for NJIT
The NJIT women's basketball team picked up its first win of the season and it was a big one, as the Highlanders recorded its first Big Ten program win with a 61-49 victory at Wisconsin paced by 14 points each from veterans Ellyn Stoll and Kenna Squier in women's basketball action Sunday afternoon at the Kohl Center.

NJIT, which found themselves down 45-43 in the fourth quarter, outscored Wisconsin, 18-2 in the final 6:24 to secure the program's first Big Ten victory. NJIT's Stoll knocked down back-to-back three-pointers to rally the Highlanders and take its biggest lead of the contest, 14, 61-47, after a free throw by Lyzi Litwinko.

NJIT, which combined for a season-best 60 points, shot 40.7 from the field (22-for-54), 33.3 from three-point range (7-for-21), 71.4 from the free throw line (10-for-14) and out-rebounded the Badgers, 40-to-31.  The Highlanders held Wisconsin to 33.9 percent from the field and 17.6 percent from downtown.

Highlander Co-Captains
Fifth-year seniors Ellyn Stoll and Maddie Martin will serve as team captains for the 2021-22.

Stoll from Point Pleasant, NJ, served as team captain for the Highlanders in 2020-21.  She started all 18 games, netting a season-best 19 points in the Highlanders 78-57 win at New Hampshire, for NJIT's first America East Conference win.   

Martin from Dunmore, PA, will look to return back to the court after recovering from an ACL injury.  In 2019-20, Martin started 18 games before suffering a season-ending injury (ACL).  She recorded a career-best 19 points and seven assists at Wagner (11.19.19).

Highlanders Returning Leading Scorer - Kenna Squier
A season ago, Squier, the only player to average double-digits at 10.6ppg has started 47 career games and enters her junior campaign with 507 career points, 207 career rebounds while shooting 46 percent from the field (175-384) and 73 percent from the free throw line (136-186).

Through the first three games of the season, Squier paces the team with 12.3ppg and has scored in double-digits in all three games with a season-best 14 points at Wisconsin on November 14, 2021.

Rising Sophomore Lyzi Litwinko
Litwinko, named to the 2021 America East All-Rookie team, averaged 8.5ppg and 6.4rpg, including two double-doubles last season. The 5-foot-8 guard led the Highlanders on board and earned America East Conference Player of the Week five times last season.

This season, Litwinko has grabbed at least five rebounds through the first three games, including a season-best eight rebounds vs. Wagner in the season opener on November 9, 2021.

Collegiate Debut for Trinity Williams
NJIT freshman Trinity Williams netted 13 points in her collegiate debut against Wagner the season opener on November 9, 2021.  Williams, the Highlanders 6-foot-1 forward from Upper Black, PA, shared game-high honors in her debut with 13 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the field and 1-for-2 from downtown in 17 minutes of action off the bench.

For the 2021-22 season, Williams ranks second on the team in points per game (9.3) and fourth in rebounds per game (2.7).

2021-22 Stat Leaders
Points: Kenna Squier - 12.3ppg
Rebounds: Lyzi Litwinko - 6.0rpg
3PT FG: Grace Plummer - 57.1%
FG Pct.: Trinity Williams - 66.7%
FT Pct: Kenna Squier - 71.4%
Assists: Kenna Squier - 2.7apg
Blocks: Trinity Williams & Kimi Evans - 3
Minutes: Kenna Squier - 34.0

America East Conference
NJIT will begin its second season in the America East and will play a schedule of 18 conference games against the other nine schools.  The Highlanders became the 10th full member of the America East on July 1, 2020.  The Highlanders were predicted to finish eighth out of the 10 league teams in the preseason coaches poll.

Scouting the Opponent
LIU (0-1) will play at Pitt on November 17 before returning back to the tri-state area for a matchup with NJIT on Thursday, November 18.

Emaia O'Brien was selected Northeast Conference Rookie of the Week after her debut at Penn State, scoring 12 points in 11 minutes, shooting 80 percent from the field highlighted by a 3-for-4 clip from downtown. 

In the Preseason Northeast Conference Coaches Poll, the Sharks were predicted to finish ninth out of 10 teams.  Last season, LIU finished with a 7-11 record.

Next Up
NJIT will hit the road for a pair of games at Central Connecticut State (November 21 at 1pm) and Fairleigh Dickinson (November 24 at 1pm).

Stay Connected
Stay up to date during the NJIT Women's Basketball season by following @NJITWBB on Twitter and Instagram and liking the NJIT Women's Basketball page on Facebook.