VIDEO: NJIT Highlights
VIDEO: Post Game Wrap Up w/ Head Coach Mike Lane
NEWARK, NJ–Visiting Maine poured in 22 third-quarter points to top NJIT, 72-46, in America East Conference action Saturday afternoon inside the Joel and Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center.
Maine, tied for first in the America East women's basketball standings with UAlbany, improved to 12-2 in the league, 19-9 overall while the Highlanders moved to 2-12 in the conference and 10-17 overall.
After a tight first quarter, Maine led by a point, 14-13, as the Highlanders found themselves only down seven at the half, 34-27. The Black Bears outscored NJIT 38-19 in the second half, including a 22-9 advantage in the third quarter, to pull away from the Highlanders.
NJIT was led by junior Trinity Williams with nine points on 3-for-5 from the field to go along with five rebounds followed by graduate student Kenna Squier and freshman Marissa Gingirch each posting seven points.
Senior Aria Myers and freshman Madilyn Dogs chipped in six points apiece for the Highlanders.
After a back and forth first quarter, which saw Maine lead by one, 14-13, after the first 10 minutes, they began to distance themselves, using an 11-2 run to give the Black Bears a 10-point advantage, 25-15, with six minutes to play.
Maine went on a 15-3 run in the third quarter, extending its lead to as many as 19 and closed out the quarter on top by 20, 56-36.
The Black Bears scored the first six points of the fourth quarter and took its largest lead of the game, 26, 62-36. NJIT went on a 9-2 spurt to close the Black Bear gap to within 18, 64-46, on a three-pointer by Marissa Gingrich, the closest the Highlanders would get as Maine cruised to a 72-46 road victory.
Adrianna Smith and Anne Simone each tallied double-doubles in leading Maine to victory. Smith combined for 25 points and 13 rebounds while Simon scored 10 points for the Black Bears.
The Highlanders have two remaining games left in the regular season with a chance to move into eighth place and qualify for the postseason tournament. NJIT will conclude the America East road schedule on Thursday at 7pm when the Highlanders visit UMBC and close out the regular season on March 2, Senior and Alumnae Day with tip-off slated for 2pm.
