VIDEO: NJIT Highlights at FDU
HACKENSACK, NJ--Fairleigh Dickinson combined for 40 second half points on its way to a 65-55 victory over visiting NJIT in women's basketball non-conference action Wednesday afternoon inside the Stratis Arena at the Rothman Center.
Fairleigh Dickinson picked up its second straight win of the season, improving to 2-3 on the season while the Highlanders, who entered the game on a three-game win streak, moved to an even 3-3 on the season.
The Knights Chloe Wilson led all players with 24 points on 9-of-12 shooting from the field and 6-of-8 from the free throw line while Aniya Bell came off the bench to score 11 points and grabbed eight rebounds.
For NJIT, sophomore Grace Plummer led the Highlanders with nine points -- all coming in the fourth quarter on 3-of-4 coming from downtown in 17 minutes of action. Three different Highlanders -- Kenna Squier, Kimi Evans and Ellyn Stoll each chipped in eight points apiece. Evans finished 4-of-8 from the field followed by Squier who shot 4-of-6 from the field. Squier grabbed a season-best eight rebounds and added three assists.
FDU got going early, jumping out to a 12-6 advantage heading into the under five media timeout. NJIT rallied back and knotted the game at 14-all after a pair of three-pointers knocked down by Maria Fux.
NJIT took a one-point lead late in the second quarter, 21-20, on an old-fashioned three-point play by Ellyn Stoll with less than four minutes on the clock. Both teams traded points over the final 3:30 and the Highlanders held a two-point lead heading into the half, 27-25, on a three-pointer by Soll.
Fux led the Highlanders with seven points while Wilson led all scorers with 12 points on 6-of-7 shooting through the first 20 minutes.
Fairleigh Dickinson exploded for 21 third quarter points, outscoring the Highlanders, 21-11, increasing the Knight lead to eight, 46-38, heading into the final stanza.
A pair of free throws made by Chloe Wilson started the fourth quarter for FDU, which took a 10-point lead 47-38. Stoll connected on a jumper at the 8:08 mark, slimming the Knight deficit to seven, 47-40 but a 12-5 spurt over the last 5:15 for FDU, extended the Knight lead to 11, 51-40, resulting in an NJIT timeout at the 6:25 mark.
Fairleigh Dickinson increased its lead to double-figures, 10, 48-38, after a pair of free throws by Wilson. NJIT's Plummer sank a three-pointer, cutting the Knight lead to eight, 53-45 with 5:08 to go but the Knights would take its biggest lead of the game, 13, 58-45, on free throws made by Rachael Niles. Plummer connected on another big three-pointer, closing the FDU gap to 10, 58-48 at the 2:30 mark to keep the Highlanders in the game. Plummer answered with her third three-pointer of the quarter, slimming the lead to nine, 62-53 with 1:30 to go. NJIT would get as close as eight, 63-55, after a pair of free throws made by freshman Reese Vaughan.
NJIT will return back home and host Saint Peter's after the Thanksgiving Holiday on Saturday, November 27 inside NJIT's Wellness and Events Center. Tipoff is slated for 2pm on ESPN3.
