VIDEO: NJIT Highlights
LOWELL, MA–The NJIT women's basketball team won its third straight game of the season behind three players reaching double-figures paced by a team-best 17 points from Kenna Squier in the Highlanders 60-50 road victory at UMass Lowell in America East Conference women's basketball action on Wednesday evening at Costello Athletic Center.
With the win, NJIT improves to 13-11 overall and 8-5 in the America East. The 13 wins is the second highest win total in the NJIT Division I era and eight road wins are the most at the NJIT Division I level.
The Highlanders currently hold the four seed in the 2022 America East Conference Tournament scheduled for next month with four league games remaining on the schedule. America East Conference Standings
Squier finished 5-for-10 from the field, 7-of-8 from the free throw line followed by Lyzi Litwinko who just missed notching a double-double with 15 points and nine rebounds and Ellyn Stoll with 14 points on 3-of-5 from three-point range.
As a team, the Highlanders, who top the America East Conference in team blocks, combined for six total blocks – a pair of blocks coming from Maria Fux and Kiana Brereton.
The Highlanders finished 42.6% from the field (20-for-47), 41.7% from three-point range (5-for-12) and 71.4% from the free throw line (15-for-21).
UMass Lowell (9-12, 6-6 America East) were led by a career-best 22 points from Denise Solis and Baylee Teal with eight points. Solis and Shamyjha Paris each pulled down five rebounds for the RiverHawks.
The RiverHawks were held to just one three-pointer in the contest, shooting 7.1% from the field (1-for-14).
A hot 15-3 start for NJIT to begin the first quarter, was capped by a three-pointer from sophomore Aria Myers. The defensive minded Highlanders held UMass Lowell to just one made field goal in the first 10 minutes for a 15-6 lead.
UMass Lowell responded and opened the second quarter on a 6-3 spurt, cutting the Highlander lead to five, 18-12, capped by a layup from Baylee Teal. NJIT rallied for six consecutive points, pushing its lead to double-digits, 11, 23-12, at the 4:35 mark.
NJIT went into the locker room with an eight point advantage, 25-17.
In the third quarter, UMass Lowell Solis carried the RiverHawks, scoring 13 points in a span of 4:00, slimming the Highlander lead to six, 38-32, on an old-fashioned three-point play at the 4:40 mark. NJIT finished the third quarter on a strong run, scoring the final seven points, taking a nine-point lead 45-36.
NJIT pushed its lead back up to double-digits in the fourth quarter, 12, 50-38, after a three-pointer by Stoll, the Highlanders second biggest lead of the game. UMass Lowell would get as close as six, 51-45, at the 4:13 mark but NJIT remained in control, extendings its lead back up to double digits to secure the 60-50 road win.
The Highlanders will play its next two games at home inside NJIT's Wellness and Events Center, first welcoming Maine on February 19 at 2pm on the Highlanders annual Play4Kay game.
In the first meeting of the season, NJIT defeated Maine in overtime, 67-69.
