VIDEO: NJIT Highlights vs. UMBC
VIDEO: Post Game Wrap Up w/ ESPN+ Mike Ventola & head coach Mike Lane
NEWARK, NJ–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 at NJIT Wednesday evening in America East Conference action inside NJIT's Wellness and Events Center.
UMBC, which won its second consecutive and earned the season series sweep over NJIT, improves to 11-12 overall and 8-4 in the league while the Highlanders move to 11-12 overall and 6-5 in the league.
Squier, the Highlanders 5-foot-8 guard and reigning America East Conference Player of the Week, set a new personal-best mark with a game-best 29 points on 12-of-21 shooting from the field to go along with six rebounds, four assists and two steals in 38 minutes. The 29 points scored by Squier are the most points scored since 2018 when Kelly Guarino '19 netted a career-best 28 points at Colgate on December 18.
In addition to Squier, Alejandra Zuniga chipped in 13 points while Trinity Williams added 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting from the field and six rebounds. Lilly Anderson added six points off the bench.
UMBC had four players reach double-digits led by a team-best 17 points from Keelah Dixon on 6-of-10 shooting from the field followed by Ashia McCalla (13), K.K. White (11), and Laycce Drake (10). Kiara Bell added nine points, six rebounds and four blocks.
The Retrievers held an advantage on the glass 36-to-27 led by eight rebounds by Drake.
NJIT scored 19 first quarter points and took a nine-point advantage, 19-10, on a three-pointer by Kenna Squier at the 1:40 mark behind a 7-2 run for the home team.
The Highlanders used a 7-4 run to begin the third quarter and take a 25-16 lead just under the eight minute mark on a layup by Alejandra Zuniga. UMBC scored 10 unanswered points, pulling within one of NJIT, 27-26. Lilly Anderson got the Highlanders going with a nice move down-low to put NJIT back on top, 29-26, at the five-minute mark. UMBC went on a 6-2 spurt to for a one-point lead, 32-31, at the 2:54 mark and the Highlanders finished the quarter scoring four straight points, including a quick jumper by Aria Myers with time expiring for a 37-36 lead.
At the half, NJIT's Kenna Squier led all players with 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field followed by Trinity Williams (7) and Aria Myers (7). UMBC's Keelah Dixon led the visitors with 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting from the field.
The Retrievers held a big advantage on the boards after the first twenty minutes, 21-to-11, led by Laycee Drake's game-best six rebounds.
NJIT pushed its lead to six midway through the third quarter on a straight away three-pointer by Zuniga for a 47-41 lead at the 5:25 mark. UMBC used an 11-2 run over in the final four minutes to take a three-point lead, 54-51, heading into the fourth quarter.
The Highlanders would go on a 7-1 run midway through the fourth quarter to cut the lead to three, 63-60 at the 3:20 mark. NJIT slimmed the UMBC lead to as many as two in the final :20 seconds of regulation on buckets by Squier with :14 seconds remaining for a 70-68 score.
The Highlanders made one final push but the Retrievers hit their free throws and a desperation three from NJIT rimmed out at the buzzer as the Retrievers held on for a 72-69 victory.
NJIT will return to action on Saturday at 1pm when the Highlanders travel to Maine. The game will be streamed live on ESPN3.
