VIDEO: NJIT Highlights at UMBC | 1.25.23
NEWARK, NJ–UMBC's Laycce Drake hit a three-pointer in the final seconds to earn the thrilling home victory over visiting NJIT, 61-60, in America East Conference action inside Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena.
With 1:50 on the clock, NJIT's junior Aria Myers connected on her second straight three-pointer to give the Highlanders a one-point lead, 59-58. Sophomore forward Trinity Williams followed with a steal off an UMBC in-bounds play and hit on one-of-two from the free throw line to push the NJIT lead to two, 60-58, with :02 remaining.
Out of a timeout, UMBC's Drake received the ball on the left side of the floor, took two dribbles and launched a floater just behind the arc off one foot to give the Retrievers a 61-60 lead.
UMBC, winners of three in a row, improved to 9-10 overall, 6-2 in the America East while the Highlanders moved to 9-11 overall, 4-4 in the America East.
The Retrievers were led by KK White's team-best 16 points on 7-of-10 from the field off the bench followed by Drake (15) and Ashia McCalla (14). Kiara Bell led all players on the boards with 10.
NJIT's Alejandra Zuniga led all players with 18 points followed by Myers (13) and Williams (11). Grace Plummer chipped in eight points. Kiana Brereton paced NJIT on the boards with five rebounds as the Highlanders held a slight edge, 31-to-29.
UMBC scored the first eight out of 10 points of the contest for an early 8-2 lead. NJIT scored the next five points capped by a three-pointer from the top of the three-point arc by Grace Plummer, pulling within one, 8-7, just under the six-minute mark. The Retrievers used a 10-0 spurt over the next 4:45 for a 18-7 lead. Plummer knocked down her second trey ball of the game and Zuniga connected on a pair of free throws to cut the Retriever deficit to single digits, eight, 20-12, at the end of the first quarter. Zuniga and Plummer each scored six points for NJIT.
Consecutive layups by Trinity Williams and a layup by Zuniga capped an 8-0 run for the Highlanders to start the second quarter, cutting the Retrievers lead to four, 22-18, at the 6:03 mark. The Highlanders went on an 8-3 run in the final 5:21 to slim the Retrievers lead to one, 27-26, heading into the locker room.
Zuniga led all scorers with 12 points and three assists followed by Plummer with eight points. UMBC's Ashia McCalla paced UMBC with 10 points.
Both teams went back and forth to start the third quarter and the Highlanders went on a late 7-2 run in the period to cut the Retriever gap to one, 40-39, after a running layup in the paint by Squier at the two minute mark. NJIT took its first lead of the game on a three-pointer by Maria 44-42 with :10 remaining in the third quarter.
NJIT will have a bye weekend and return to action on February 1 when the Highlanders visit New Hampshire at 7pm. In the first meeting of the season, NJIT registered a 53-43 victory in Newark.
