VIDEO: NJIT Highlights
Post Game Interview with fifth-year head coach Mike Lane
VESTAL, NY–Sophomore Trinity Williams combined for her third double-double of the season recording 14 points and 10 rebounds to go along with a career-best six blocks in the Highlanders 62-57 road victory at Binghamton Wednesday evening in America East Conference women's basketball action inside Dr. Bai Lee Court.
NJIT, which has now won the last three meetings against the Bearcats, which have been decided by 10 or less points, improves to 3-1 in the America East and an even 8-8 overall. Binghamton moves to 2-2 in the league and 9-8 overall.
Williams, the Highlanders 6-foot-2 forward, finished 6-of-13 from the field and combined for a new personal-best six blocks. The six blocks are the most blocks in a single season since 2011 when Nicole Maticka recorded eight against Fairleigh Dickinson.
In addition to Williams, senior Kenna Squier scored 11 points and finished 4-for-7 from the field, six rebounds and four block assists, a new personal-best.
Freshman Alejandra Zuniga chipped in 10 points and a career-best five assists in 23 minutes of action while Lyzi Litwinko added eight points and seven rebounds. Maria Fux notched eight points on 3-of-5 shooting from the field and three rebounds.
The 13 team blocks against the Bearcats ties the NJIT Division I record (13 vs. Chicago State; March 3, 2012) and one block shy of the NJIT all-time record (14 vs. Baruch on February 12, 1996).
Binghamton's Ella Wanzer scored a career-best 26 points and Genevieve Coleman combined for a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds in the loss.
Binghamton jumped out to a 7-4 lead in the opening three minutes but the Highlanders answered with four quick points, taking the lead 9-7 after a tough layup by Maria Fux. Binghamton closed out the final 4:30 with seven unanswered points for a 14-9 advantage.
The Bearcats continued its momentum into the second quarter, using an 18-3 spurt over the last 7:20 for a 25-14 advantage. NJIT's lone points came from Alejandra Zuniga from behind the arc at the 8:16 mark. The Highlanders rallied to cut the Bearcat lead down to single digits, seven, 28-21, on a put-back jumper in the paint at the 4:25 mark. NJIT's Williams scored six points in the second quarter.
The top leader through the first 20 minutes was Binghamton's Ella Wanzer with a game-best 15 points followed by NJIT's Williams with 10 points on 5-of-8 shooting, including four rebounds and four blocks.
Trailing by 10 at the half, 33-22, NJIT scored 11 consecutive points to open the third quarter and used a 19-6 run for a 42-39 advantage, resulting in a Binghamton timeout. NJIT exploded for 21-third quarter points, outscoring Binghamton 21-8 for a 44-41 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
In the fourth quarter, the game saw two ties the final at 53-all with 2:42 left to play and the Highlanders closed out the game on a 6-3 run in the final :24 to secure the 62-57 road victory at Binghamton.
NJIT will conclude its two-game America East road trip on Saturday at 3pm when the Highlanders visit UAlbany. The game will be produced on ESPN3.
