NJIT Highlights
BALTIMORE, MD–Four Highlander players scored in double-figures paced by Kenna Squier and Aria Myers who each netted 13 points but it wasn't enough as Keelah Dixon led all players with 21 points as fourth-seeded UMBC topped fifth-seeded NJIT in the first round of the 2023 Jersey Mike's America East Conference Playoffs Wednesday evening inside Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena.
With the win, UMBC improves to 14-14 on the season and advances to the semifinals on Sunday, March 5. The Retrievers will face top-seeded Vermont.
NJIT, which made its third consecutive appearance in the America East postseason tournament, concluded its season with a 13-16 overall mark and 8-8 in the America East.
"I thought UMBC played great today," fifth-year head coach Mike Lane commented postgame. "They were the better team from tip to buzzer. It's not a great feeling. We had two really tough games with UMBC this year and lost a heartbreaker last time we were here. And those games are a little bit harder to take. I thought we battled, we always do but we just didn't have enough tonight."
UMBC had four players reach double-figures paced by Dixon's 21 points on 7-of-14 from the field and 4-of-5 from the free throw line. In addition to Dixon, KK White combined for 17 points, America East Defensive Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year Kiara Bell recorded a double-double with 12 points and 15 rebounds. Laycee Drake and Ashia McCalla chipped in 10 points apiece.
Two-time America East third-team selectee Kenna Squier shared team-high honors with Aria Myers, registering 13 points each. America East Rookie of the Year Alejandra Zuniga added 12 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the free throw line and Kiana Brereton chipped in 10 points in 15 minutes off the bench.
Squier led the Highlanders on the boards with seven rebounds and Zuniga paced NJIT with four assists and four steals.
After trailing 4-0 early, NJIT fought back to cut the UMBC lead to two, 13-11, behind five points from senior Kenna Squier. UMBC pushed its lead to as many as eight points, 24-17, on a three-pointer by Keelah Dixon just under the two-minute mark.
Both teams went back-and-forth in the second quarter with UMBC leading by double-digits, 36-25, at the 5:45 mark. NJIT closed out the quarter on a 7-3 spurt to close the gap to within eight, 40-32, at the half.
After the first 20 minutes, Keelah Dixon led all scorers with 10 points while NJIT's Kenna Squier and Alejandra, both named to the America East All-Conference team, paced the Highlanders with eight points followed by six points from Kiana Brereton.
UMBC went ahead by 14, 46-32, in the first three minutes of the third quarter. NJIT rallied back to cut the deficit to single digits, 46-37, at the six minute mark after one-of-two from Alejandra Zuniga. The Retrievers scored eight straight points for its biggest lead of the contest, 17, 54-37, on a three-pointer by Dixon at the 2:50 mark.
The Retrievers held a double-digit lead through the fourth quarter with the Highlanders cutting the gap from as many as 16 points to 13, 74-61, on a three-pointer by Myers at the 3:20 mark. NJIT closed out the game on a 10-4 spurt in the final two minutes but it was too much to overcome the Retrievers' double-digit lead as UMBC advanced to the semifinals of the America East postseason tournament for the first time since 2015 with a 81-72 victory.
Six graduating Highlander seniors played in their final collegiate games: Grace Plummer, Kenna Squier, Kennedy Cash, Maria Fux, Kendle Dalrymple and Dani Evans.
