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NEWARK, NJ--Visiting Monmouth defeated NJIT, 62-53, Wednesday evening in women's basketball non-conference action inside NJIT's Wellness and Events Center.
Monmouth picked up its second straight win of the season, improving to 4-3 on the season while the Highlanders suffered its third consecutive loss, moving to 4-6 on the season.
Graduate student Stella Clark led all scorers with 19 points, shooting 3-for-7 from three-point range followed by Kaci Donovan, who came off the bench to score 14 points on 4-of-5 from beyond the arc in 20 minutes of action. Center Belle Kranbuhl led all players with a big performance on the boards, pulling down 12 rebounds to go along with seven points and three blocks.
For NJIT, sophomore Lyzi Litwinko led the way with 15 points, after coming off a career-best 20 points at Lafayette on Saturday afternoon. Litwinko finished 6-for-11 from the field and grabbed eight rebounds to go along with three assists.
Junior Kenna Squier netted 13 points on 4-of-9 from the field and 5-of-6 from the free throw line, including seven rebounds and two assists.
The Highlanders battled on the glass, edging the Hawks, 38-to-37, led by Litwinko (8), Maria Fux (7) and Squier (7).
NJIT held an early 8-7 lead into the first media timeout with a balanced attack with four-out-of-five starters netting two points. Monmouth used a 5-0 run for a 12-8 advantage but the Highlanders scored six consecutive points to close out the first quarter with a 14-12 lead.
The Highlanders went on a 5-0 run in the second quarter, thanks to a three-pointer and coast-to-coast fast break layup by Lyzi Litwinko for a 19-14 lead, resulting in a timeout by Monmouth at the 5:51 mark. Litwinko sparked a 7-0 spurt, giving the Highlanders a 25-18 lead with 2:24 left to play but Monmouth's Stella Clark connected on the final nine points of the period (all from behind the arc) and the Hawks went into the half leading by two, 27-25.
Clark led all scorers after the first 20 minutes, shooting 5-for-9 from the field and 3-of-4 from beyond the arc while NJIT's Litwinko followed with 11 points and a game-best seven rebounds, shooting 4-for-7 from the field.
Trailing 27-25 at the half, NJIT scored the first four points of the third quarter, knotting the game at 29-all but Monmouth took control and used a 16-3 run over the next six minutes, increasing the Hawks lead to 43-32.
NJIT pulled within seven of Monmouth, 48-41, on a strong take to the hoop by Squier 1:45 into the fourth quarter but the Hawks pushed its lead to double-digits, taking its biggest lead of the game, 13, 59-46.
NJIT will wrap up its non-conference slate on Saturday, December 11 at 2pm when the Highlanders visit St. Francis Brooklyn.
