NJIT Highlights vs. Lafayette
ESPN3's Dave Calloway and Mike Lane Post Game
Post Game Show with ESPN3's Mike Ventola and Mike Lane
NEWARK, NJ–NJIT junior Aria Myers scored a career-high 23 points in the Highlanders home opening loss against visiting Lafayette Friday evening inside NJIT's Wellness and Events Center in women's basketball non-conference action.
NJIT, which picked up a 68-60 road victory at Rider to open the 2022 campaign moves to 1-1 on the young season while Lafayette improves to an even 1-1 on the season.
Myers, a 5-foot-9 guard from Cedar Grove, NJ, set a career-best, netting 23 points on 9-of-16 from the field, 3-of-7 from three-point range and 2-of-3 from the free throw line.
In addition to Myers' game-best 23 points, Lyzi Litwinko chipped in eight points and three rebounds followed by sophomore Trinity Williams who added seven points, five rebounds and two blocks.
Lafayette's Makayla Andrews led the visitors with 20 points and seven rebounds, shooting 8-for-13 from the field. Three different Leopards – Kayala Drummond, Jessica Booth and Emma Shields each chipped in six points. Andrews led all players on the boards with seven as the Leopards held a slight edge on the boards (31-to-26).
A close first 10 minutes saw neither team lead by more than four points until the 1:36 mark after consecutive baskets coming from Aria Myers and Kenna Squier for a six-point lead, 20-14. Myers scored 10 points in the first quarter on 4-of-5 shooting from the field.
NJIT pushed its lead to double-figures in the second quarter on two occasions – 6:17 mark on a three-pointer by Kendle Dalrymple and 2:49 mark, 32-22, on a layup inside the paint by Williams. Lafayette scored the final five points of the quarter as the Leopards cut the Highlander deficit to five points, 32-27, heading into the locker room.
Myers led all scorers after the first 20 minutes of action with 12 points followed by Williams with 10 points. Halee Smith paced the Leopards with nine points.
Lafayette used an 8-0 scoring run late in the third quarter, pulling within one of the home team, 43-42 and took its first lead of the contest, 45-43, on a three-pointer by Sauda Ntaconayigize.
The Leopards continued its momentum into the final quarter, extending its lead to as many as eight, 57-49, at the 4:13 mark. NJIT closed the gap to within two, 58-56, at the 1:15 mark on a steal and fast break layup by Litwinko, resulting in an NJIT timeout.
Lafayette sank a pair of free throws to push the lead to four, 60-56, but NJIT's Myers answered with two of her own for a 60-58 score with ten seconds remaining. The Leopards sank the final two points from the free throw line to secure the 62-58 victory.
The Highlanders will head down the New Jersey Turnpike and face first-time opponent Rutgers from the Big Ten Conference on November 13 inside Jersey Mike's Arena in Piscataway.
Last season, the NJIT women's basketball team picked up its first Big Ten program win on the road at Wisconsin, 61-49, on November 14, 2021, paced by 14 points each from veterans Ellyn Stoll and Kenna Squier.
