NEWARK, NJ–The NJIT women's basketball team has selected senior Kenna Squier and junior Lyzi Litwinko to serve as team captains for the 2022-23 season.

"Kenna (Squier) and Lyzi (Litwinko) personify what we want our women's basketball players to strive for in terms of toughness, intelligence, work ethic and being a teammate", said fifth-year head coach Mike Lane. "I look forward to seeing them excel in this next step of their Highlander careers."

Squier, a 5–foot-9 guard from Branchville, NJ, was selected to the America East Conference third team last season.  Squier topped the Highlanders last season in scoring 11.1ppg and steals with 44.  Her 11.1ppg ranked 13th in the America East. She combined for 20 double-digit games, including a career-best 24 points in NJIT's overtime win at Maine on January 2, 2022. Squier finished the season ranked fifth in free throw percentage (.745), seventh in minute played (32.7), eighth in steals (1.5) and 12th in blocked shots (0.7) in the America East.

"I am honored to have been chosen by my coaches and teammates to be a captain," said Squier.  "To be able to lead and inspire my best friends alongside Lyzi everyday is something I will forever be grateful for. I'm so excited to do big things this year as a team and make more history for NJIT Women's Basketball. RollTech!!"

Lane added: "Kenna is the most experienced player on our roster, a fantastic teammate and has an unselfish, team-first mindset which is why it is no surprise that our squad wanted her as a captain. I am excited to see Kenna in this role and have already seen great initial steps since the end of last season."

Litwinko, a two-time America East Conference honoree (Third team in 2021-22; All-Rookie team 2020-21), ranked third on the Highlander squad a season ago, averaging 10.7ppg while leading the team with 7.1rpg.  

The 5-foot-8 guard ranked fourth in the America East in rebounding and recorded three double-doubles, including a new personal-best mark of 22 points at Binghamton on January 22, 2022.  Her 13 rebounds at Binghamton matches her personal-best mark (vs. New Hampshire in 2021). In addition to ranking in the top four in rebounding in the America East, Litwinko ranked sixth in free throw percentage (.732), 13th in minutes played (30.9) and 18th in assists (2.1).

"I am very grateful that my coaches and teammates have trusted me to fulfill a new role on the team as a captain," said Litwinko. "I'm especially excited to take on that role with Kenna (Squier) who has been someone I've always looked up to.  As a team, there is a lot of potential for us to do big things this season.  With that said, the confidence and effort that it will take to meet those expectations is something that I hope to spread every single day."

Lane concluded: "Lyzi is the hardest worker on a roster of 16 incredible hard-working young women. She has led by example since stepping on campus, and has become more of a vocal leader. Her teammates know that she would do anything for them and now they have selected her to lead them."