VIDEO: NJIT Highlights at Rider
LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ--Fifth-Year Ellyn Stoll scored her 1,000th career point at Rider Tuesday evening but it wasn't enough as the Highlanders lost a hard fought 64-59 battle to the Broncs in non-conference women's basketball action inside Alumni Gymnasium.
Stoll, from Point Pleasant, NJ, scored her 1,000 point in the fourth quarter, taking her defender off the dribble from the top of the key and stepping in for two at the 4:30 mark.
Rider picked up its first win of the season improving to 1-5 while the Highlanders moved to an even 4-4 on the season with three non-conference opponents left on the slate (Dec. 4 at Lafayette; Dec. 8 vs. Monmouth; Dec. 11 at St. Francis Brooklyn) before opening America East Conference action on December 30, welcoming defending America East Champions Stony Brook.
The Broncs were led by Lenaejha Evans game-best 22 points on 7-of-13 from the floor, a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line while Raphaela Toussaint posted a double-double, netting 17 points and game-best 10 rebounds.
NJIT was paced by two double-figure scorers -- Kenna Squier (17 points) and Lyzi Litwinko (15 points). Squier finished 4-for-6 from the field, 9-of-10 from the free throw line and pulled down six rebounds and dished out two assists. Litwinko went 4-for-9 from the field, 7-of-10 from the charity stripe, grabbed six rebounds and notched two assists.
Stoll finished the night with nine points and three assists followed by Maria Fux who chipped in eight points n 3-of-5 from the field and 2-of-3 from beyond the arc while adding seven rebounds.
NJIT opened up the scoring 8-2 capped by a jumper by Maria Fux. Rider used a 7-0 run, taking its first lead of the contest, 9-8, at the 4:19 mark on a layup by Anna Ekerstedt. The Broncs closed out the quarter on a 5-2 spurt for a 16-10 advantage.
In the second quarter, redshirt senior Kimi Evans, who finished with eight points, scored six straight points down low for the Highlanders, cutting the Bronc lead to two, 18-16, just under the six minute mark.
Litwinko scored NJIT's final six points of the second quarter, after a pair of old-fashioned three-point plays, slimming the Broncs lead to two, 24-22, with 1:20 left to play. Rider scored the final four points of the quarter in the final :30, heading into the locker room with a six-point advantage, 28-22.
After the first 20 minutes of action, Litwinko led the Highlanders with seven points followed by Kimi Evans with six. Rider's Lenaejha Evans led all players with 11 points.
NJIT scored the first three points of the third quarter and Rider used an 8-2 spurt, pushing its lead to 36-29 just under the 5:30 mark. The Broncs took its biggest lead of the game, 11, 45-34, on Rider three-pointer.
NJIT rallied back in the fourth quarter to cut the Broncs lead to two, 50-48, at the 6:15 mark, behind a 7-0 run sparked by a three-pointer by Maria Fux and capped by a fast break jumper by Stoll, resulting in a timeout by Rider. NJIT's Litwinko tied the game at 50-50 left-handed layup at the 5:45 mark.
The game saw three more ties -- the final coming at 56-56 after Squier connected on a pair of free throws. Rider Evan's knocked down jumper at the elbow for a three-point lead, 60-57 with one minute left. NJIT's Litwinko sank a pair of free throws for a one-point game, 60-59, with :55 second on the clock but the Broncs scored the final four points from the free throw line in the final 10 seconds to secure the 64-59 victory.
NJIT will conclude a short two-game road trip on Saturday at 2pm when the Highlanders visit Lafayette. Tip-off is slated for 2pm on ESPN+.
