VIDEO: NJIT Highlights
ALBANY, NY–The No. 7 seeded NJIT Highlanders saw its 2024 season come to a close in a 57-42 loss at No. 2 seeded UAlbany in the America East Conference Quarterfinals Friday evening inside Broadview Center.
NJIT concludes the season with a 12-17 overall record while UAlbany improves to 25-5 overall, advancing to the America East Semifinals on Monday, March 11.
Senior Lyzi Litwinko led the Highlanders with 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the field followed by freshman Marissa Gingrich (10pts) and Kenna Squier (7pts). Senior Lilly Anderson paced NJIT on the boards with seven rebounds and Squier dished out four assists.
"I thought Lyzi Litwinko made a huge impact in the game," sixth-year head coach Mike Lane commented in postgame. "I thought she played very free and loose. She was playing fast and making good decisions and she sped us up and got us going in the first half."
UAlbany scored the first seven points and freshman Marissa Gingirch connected on a three-pointer to score the first points for the Highlanders, sparking a 6-0 run to end the quarter down two, 9-7.
Lyzi Litwinko scored five of NJIT's seven points to begin the second quarter capped by a three-pointer at the five-minute mark for a 14-12 score. UAlbany answered and used a 14-1 run over the final 5:05 to take an 11-point lead at the half, 26-15.
UAlbany's Kayla Cooper led all scorers after the first 20 minutes with eight points followed by NJIT's Litwinko with seven points on 3-of-5 from the field.
NJIT used a 7-2 spurt midway through the third quarter, slimming the Great Danes lead to 10, 33-22, on a three-pointer by Zuniga at the 5:34 mark. The Highlanders rallied back, using an 8-2 run to close the Great Danes gap to within single digits, 38-29, on a coast-to-coast move by Gingrich with less than thirty seconds to play in the quarter.
UAlbany opened the scoring 11-1 in the final quarter, extending its lead to as many as 21, its largest lead of the contest, 50-30, and never looked back.
The Great Danes were led by Kayla Cooper's game-best 14 points and Megan Huerter's 10 points off the bench on 4-of-8 from downtown. Deja Evans grabbed eight rebounds to lead all players.
NJIT Notes
–NJIT played in its fourth consecutive America East Conference Tournament
–Alejandra Zuniga was selected to the America East Conference second team
–Finished the non-conference slate above .500 with an 8-5 mark for the first time in the NJIT Division I era
–Combined for three straight season with double-figure victories (first in NJIT DI era)
–Won the last three out of four games in the regular season to qualify for the postseason tournament
–Six Highlanders played in their final career game at NJIT: Kenna Squier, Lindsey Syrek, Aria Myers, Lyzi Litwinko, Kiana Brereton, and Lilly Anderson.
–Kenna Squier leaving her mark in the NJIT record books: 1,417 career points (3rd all-time, 2nd in NJIT DI era), 602 rebounds (4th NJIT DI era), 271 assists (4th NJIT DI era), 189 steals (NJIT DI all-time leader), 136 games (T-1st in NJIT DI era)
Stay Connected
Stay up to date during the NJIT Women's Basketball season by following @NJITWBB on Twitter and Instagram and liking the NJIT Women's Basketball page on Facebook
