VIDEO: Post Game Interview with ESPN+ Drew Casey, Head Coach Mike Lane and Trinity Williams
VIDEO: NJIT Highlights vs. New Hampshire
NEWARK, NJ–Three Highlanders scored in double-figures leading NJIT past visiting New Hampshire, 54-43, Thursday evening in the America East Conference opener for both teams inside NJIT's Wellness and Events Center.
NJIT, winners of its last two-out-of-three contests, moves to 6-7 overall on the season and 1-0 in the America East while UNH falls to 5-8 on the season and 0-1 in the conference.
Aria Myers and Alejandra Zuniga paced NJIT with 13 points apiece followed by Trinity Williams who combined for a double-double (10 points and 12 rebounds).
The 12 rebounds for Williams was one shy of her career-best 13 vs. CCSU on November 19. Myers grabbed six rebounds while Kenna Squier chipped in six points and six rebounds. Maria Fux pulled down seven rebounds for the Highlanders.
As a team, NJIT set a season-best mark of 54 rebounds, surpassing the 48 rebounds against CCSU on November 19, 2022.
The Wildcats were led by Brooke Kane's game-high 16 points on 7-of-15 shooting from the field while reigning America East Rookie of the Week Avery O'Connor finished with 12 points and four rebounds. Guard Breezie Williams filled up the stat sheet combining for seven points, nine rebounds, five assists and two steals.
Visiting New Hampshire got things going quickly in the opening two minutes, taking a 5-0 lead but a pair of back-to-back three-pointers by Aria Myers kept the Highlanders within one point of the Wildcats, 9-8. NJIT closed out the final 2:27 on a 7-0 run sparked by a three-pointer by Alejandra Zuniga for a 15-13 advantage.
NJIT opened the second stanza on a 10-2 spurt, taking a 10-point lead, 25-15 capped by a pair of free throws by Myers. The Wildcats scored six straight points to cut the Highlander lead to four, 25-21 with less than four minutes to play. NJIT took a seven-point lead, 29-22 behind consecutive points for the Highlanders with 1:30 remaining and the Wildcats would score the final basket of the first half for a 29-24 halftime score.
New Hampshire's Brooke Kane led all scorers with 11 points while Aria Myers led NJIT with eight points and five rebounds. Trinity Williams led all players with seven rebounds as the Highlanders held a 24-to-17 advantage on the glass after the first 20 minutes.
A low-scoring third quarter for both teams as the Highlanders outscored the Wildcats, 8-7. Williams connected on the final basket of the quarter with a putback to give NJIT a six-point lead, 37-31, heading into the fourth quarter.
NJIT connected on back-to-back three-pointers from Alejandra Zuniga and Myers to start the fourth quarter to give NJIT a double-digit lead, 43-31, resulting in a Wildcat timeout.
The Highlanders held a double-digit lead through the final six minutes of action with the Wildcats coming as close as eight, 51-43, after a three-pointer by O'Connor with less than :30 remaining in the game. NJIT scored the final three points of the contest from the free throw line to secure its first America East Conference win of the season, 54-43.
NJIT will open the New Year at UMass Lowell on January 1, 2023 for the Highlanders first road contest in the America East. Tip off is slated for 2pm on ESPN+.
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