VIDEO: NJIT Highlights
VIDEO: ESPN+ Mike Ventola & Mike Lane Post Game Wrap Up Show
NEWARK, NJ–NJIT went on a late scoring run in the second half that helped the Highlanders cut a 19-point deficit to just three points with 1:30 remaining but visiting Maine used a 6-2 run to close out the game to secure a 69-63 road victory at NJIT on Saturday afternoon in America East women's basketball action inside the Wellness and Events Center.
NJIT, down by as many as 19 in the third quarter with 7:13 on the clock, used a 17-4 run to slim the Black Bear lead to single digits, five, 46-41, capped by a pair of free throws by Kenna Squier, heading into the fourth quarter.
Maine went up by 10-points five minutes into the fourth period, 59-49, but the Highlanders inched their way back, closing the gap to three, 63-60, after consecutive steals and layups with 1:28 play, resulting in a Black Bear timeout.
Maine finished the game on a 6-2 spurt to secure the 69-63 road victory.
"We went toe-to-toe this afternoon," fifth-year head coach Mike Lane commented postgame. "Maine has been to seven straight America East Championships. I am extremely proud of our team. We fought, we were down by 12 at the half (19 in the third quarter) and we showed our fight right down to the end."
The Black Bears are winners of three straight and improve to 3-0 in the America East, 7-8 overall while the Highlanders move to 2-1 in the league and 7-8 overall.
Sophomore Black Bear Adrianna Smith led all scorers with her second straight double-double, netting a career-high 34 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Guard Sera Hodgson added 12 points while Anne Simon chipped in eight points.
NJIT was led by freshman Alejandra Zuniga's team-best 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the field followed by senior Kenna Squier's 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting and Aria Myers with 10 points and four rebounds. Trinity Williams added eight points on 4-of-9 shooting, including four rebounds.
Maine led by one, 12-11, after the first 10 minutes of action and exploded for 24-second quarter points, out-scoring the Highlanders, 24-13, to take a 36-24 advantage heading into the half.
NJIT will play its next two games on the road, first visiting Binghamton on Wednesday, January 11 at 7pm and UAlbany on January 14 at 3pm. Both games will be streamed live on either ESPN+ or ESPN3.
