VIDEO: NJIT Highlights at LIU
BROOKLYN, NY–Junior guard Lyzi Litwinko led NJIT posting a double-double (13 points, 12 rebounds) as the Highlanders picked up a 57-50 road victory at LIU inside the Steinberg Wellness Center Tuesday evening in women's basketball non-conference action.
NJIT, winners of three consecutive, improved to 4-2 on the season while LIU moved to 2-3 on the young season.
Litwinko and Aria Myers shared game-high honors with 13 points. Litwinko shot 6-for-10 from the field, adding four steals and two assists. The 12 rebounds for Litwinko was one shy her career-best mark. Myers added three rebounds and three assists.
Sophomore Trinity Williams was the Highlanders other double-figure scorer with 12 points, grabbing eight rebounds and two blocks. Williams went 5-for-12 from the field and 2-of-4 from the free throw line.
Kenna Squier added eight points while Alejandra Zuniga chipped in six points for the Highlanders. Squier and Zuniga each dished out four assists. As a team, the Highlanders combined for 17 assists, matching its season-best mark in the season opener at Rider on November 7.
LIU's Cristina Bermejo recorded a double-double, registering 13 points and 10 rebounds, shooting 4-for-9 from the field. Emaia O'Brien added eight points and De'Asia Thomas added six points and nine rebounds.
The Sharks outscored visiting NJIT 16-4 in the opening eight minutes of the game. NJIT's Squier sparked a 5-0 run, knocking down a jumper inside the paint at the 2:38 mark followed by a three-pointer from Aria Myers to cut the lead to seven, 16-9. LIU finished on a short 5-2 spurt for a 21-11 lead after the first 10 minutes. Myers scored five followed by Squier with four.
NJIT's Lyzi Litwinko scored the first four points of the second period to pull within six points of the Sharks, 21-15, but LIU pushed its lead to nine, 27-18, at the five minute media mark. The Highlanders went on a 6-2 run to slim the Shark lead to five, 29-24, with two minutes.
At the half, Myers and LIU's Ashley Austin shared game-high honors with seven points. Litwinko followed with five points and five rebounds while Squier added four points and two assists.
NJIT came out on fire in the third quarter scoring the first 11 points and out-scoring the Sharks, 20-4. The Highlanders closed out the period on a 9-1 spurt to take a 44-37 lead.
LIU worked its way back and knotted the game twice early in the fourth quarter, the final at 46-all at the 4:44 mark. NJIT used an 8-2 spurt to extend its lead to as many as nine, 56-48, at the 1:25 mark and secured the 57-50 road victory.
NJIT will wrap up its two-game road trip on Sunday, November 27 at 3pm when the Highlanders travel down the parkway and visit Monmouth inside OceanFirst Bank Center in West Long Branch, NJ.
Highlander Highlights
--The 4-2 start is the best start since the 2012-13 season.
–Last time NJIT won three in a row dates back to last season (Feb. 9 - New Hampshire, Feb. 12 - Hartford and Feb. 16 - UMass Lowell).
–The 12 rebounds for Litwinko was one shy of the career-mark for the junior from Berlin, CT.
–Tuesday marked the third straight game the Highlanders had at least three or more players scoring in double-digits.
–NJIT leads the all-time series against LIU, 7-3.
