NEWARK, NJ–Junior guard Kenna Squier netted a game-high 20 points but it wasn't enough as New Hampshire defeated visiting NJIT, 58-54, Wednesday evening in America East Conference women's basketball action at Lundholm Gymnasium.
NJIT will wrap up America East Conference regular season action at home on Saturday, February 26 at 2pm when the Highlanders host Hartford. In pregame ceremonies, NJIT will honor its four graduating seniors – Ellyn Stoll, Kimi Evans, Samantha Schultz and Maddie Martin.
New Hampshire (7-19 overall, 4-11 America East) trailed at the half, 28-21, and outscored the Highlanders 15-7 in the third quarter and combined for 22 fourth quarter points to edge NJIT, 58-54.
Brooke Kane led the Wildcats with a double-double, combining for 15 points and 10 rebounds followed by three players who combined for 11 points – Ivy Gogolin, Helena Delaruelle and Adara Groman.
Squier, who led all players with 20 points, finished a perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line while Lyzi Litwinko combined for her third double-double of the season, scoring 13 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Litwinko went 9-for-9 from the free throw line.
Between Squier and Litwinko, the Highlanders finished 18-for-19 from the free throw line, shooting 94.7 percent and held an edge in rebounding 43-to-37 paced by Litwinko with 10 followed by Maria Fux (8) and Lilly Anderson (5).
New Hampshire held an 11-4 lead in the opening seven minutes but the Highlanders would close out the quarter, scoring seven straight points sparked by a three-pointer by Grace Plummer and capped by a three-pointer from Squier, beating the buzzer as time expired for the Highlanders first lead of the game, 12-10.
The Wildcats knotted the contest at 16-all to start the second quarter but the Highlanders scored seven straight, taking a seven-point lead, 23-16, at the 3:25 mark and went into the half with a seven-point advantage, 28-21.
New Hampshire opened the third quarter on a 12-3 spurt, regaining the lead, 34-31, just under the five minute media. The contest saw two ties in the final minute of action and the Wildcats held a one-point lead, 36-35, heading into the fourth quarter.
The Wildcats extended its lead to nine points to start the final quarter, 46-37, behind a 10-2 run at the 7:20 mark. An Aria Myers jumper sparked six straight points for NJIT and the Highlanders slimmed the lead down to one, 46-45.
NJIT, leading by one, 50-49, at the 3:15 mark, saw the Wildcats scored six consecutive points, taking a five-point lead, 55-50, with a minute to go. NJIT cut the lead to three twice, the final at 57-54, after Litwinko knocked down four straight free throws but the Wildcats held on for a 58-54 victory.
