Game Information
The first round games will be played on Wednesday, March 1. The game is slated for 7pm inside Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena and will be streamed live on ESPN+.

All-Time Series vs. UMBC
Wednesday will mark the sixth all-time meeting between the two schools with the all-time series 3-2 in favor of UMBC.

UMBC defeated the Highlanders both times in the regular season.  Both games were decided by three or less points.

January 25 | UMBC 61, NJIT 60 - UMBC's Laycce Drake hit a three-pointer in the final seconds to earn the thrilling home victory over visiting NJIT, 61-60.
February 8 | UMBC 72, NJIT 69 - Senior guard Kenna Squier scored a career-best 29 points but it wasn't enough as UMBC rallied back down double-digits to earn the 72-69 road victory.

The series dates back to the 2006-07 season with UMBC taking the first meeting (78-51).  NJIT won a pair of games in 2007 (58-44) and 72-58 on January 12, 2022.

Jersey Mike's America East Postseason Tournament
The Jersey Mike's #AEPlayoffs begin on March 1 with quarterfinal action. For the fifth-straight year, the excitement of postseason basketball will take place on a minimum of four America East campuses with the higher seeds hosting each round. Semifinals will take place on March 5, with the Championship set for Friday, March 10 at 5 p.m. on ESPNU.

Highlanders in America East Postseason
2022-23
America East Quarterfinals | #5 NJIT at #4 UMBC | March 1, 2023 at 1pm

2021-22
America East Semifinals | L, #1 Maine 72, #5 NJIT 48
America East Quarterfinals | W, #4 NJIT 47, #5 UML 33

2020-21
America East Quarterfinals | L, #3 UML 72, #6 NJIT 52

NJIT Notes
–NJIT finished the regular season with a 13-15 overall record (two shy of the win-output from a season ago, which marked the second highest win total in the NJIT Division I era).
–The Highlanders finished .500 in the America East (8-8) (one why the program record of nine wins from a season ago).
–This season, NJIT registered three season series sweeps against New Hampshire, UMass Lowell, Binghamton and a home victory against Bryant in overtime and a big road win at Maine.
–Freshman guard Alejandra Zuniga has been named America East Rookie of the Week four times this season, including #AEHoops Big Time Performer of the Night three times.
–Zuniga ranks sixth in the America East in scoring (12.4ppg).  She is the only freshman in the top six in scoring and has scored in double-digits in 15 of the last 17 games, scoring 10 or more points.
–The 5-foot-6 guard from Madrid, Spain, scored a career-best 31 points against Binghamton on February 15, marking the most points scored by a freshman in the NJIT Division I era since the 2008 season. 
–Senior Kenna Squier, who has started all 105 games of her four-year career at NJIT, is averaging 11.1ppg and 5.1rpg, including shooting 50.2 percent from the field.  Squier ranks 14th in the America East in scoring.
–Sophomore forward Trinity Williams has registered four double-doubles this season.  Williams scored a career-best 18 points against UAlbany on February 25 and pulled down a career-best 13 rebounds against Central Connecticut State on November 19, 2022.  
–Williams ranks third in the America East in blocks per game (40 total; 1.5) and recorded a career-best six blocks at Binghamton on January 11, 2023.

The Fast Lane
2018-19: 6-24, 3-13 ASUN
2019-20: 4-25, 1-15 AE
2020-21: 4-14, 4-9 AE
2021-22: 15-15, 9-8 AE
2022-23: 13-15, 8-8 AE

The 13 wins are two shy of the 15-win output from a season ago which marked the second highest win total in the Division I era.  The eight wins in the America East are one shy of the program-best nine wins accomplished last season.

Next Up
The winner between NJIT-UMBC will advance to the America East Conference semifinals on Sunday, March 5.