Five Double Figure Scorers Lead NJIT in Overtime Victory at Home Over Central Connecticut State
Kenna Squier and Trinity Williams registered double-doubles as five Highlanders scored in double figures in NJIT's 71-65 overtime victory over visiting Central Connecticut State Saturday afternoon in non-conference women's basketball action inside NJIT's Wellness and Events Center.
The win for the Highlanders was the second straight win of the season, moving to 3-2 on the young season and 2-1 inside NJIT's Wellness and Events Center. CCSU, still in search of its first win of the season falls to 0-3.
NJIT's Williams sent the game into overtime, converting a driving layup out of the Highlander timeout with 1.4 seconds left as NJIT outscored CCSU 11-5 to secure the home victory.
Williams, the Highlanders sophomore from Upper Black Eddy, PA, combined for a career day in points (16) and rebounds (13). She finished 6-for-12 from the field.
Senior Kenna Squier registered 14 points and a career-best 11 rebounds, shooting 6-of-8 from the free throw line.
Junior point guard Lyzi Litwinko netted 16 points, shooting 7-for-12 from the field, grabbed six rebounds while Aria Myers added 12 points and freshman Alejandra Zuniga chipped in 11 points in 19 minutes off the bench for the Highlanders. Zuniga finished 4-for-7 from the field.
CCSU had three players reach double-figures paced by Alli Napoli with 14 points followed by Meghan Kenefick (12), Dejah Jenkins (12) and Forever Toppin (9).
Both teams traded points throughout the first 10 minutes of action as CCSU used a 6-2 spurt to close out the first period and go ahead by three, 17-14. CCSU's Napoli netted eight points in 10 minutes.
Trailing 17-15 heading into the second quarter, NJIT used a 14-2 run to take a 28-19 advantage and a 12-0 run in the final 5:40. Zuniga chipped in eight points in the run for NJIT. CCSU scored six straight points, slimming the Highlander lead to three, 28-25, at the 3:11 mark.
At the half, CCSU's Napoli led all players with 11 points, shooting 4-for-5 from the field while NJIT's Zuniga paced NJIT with 10 points in nine minutes of action, shooting 4-of-6 from the field followed by Williams (9) and Litwinko (7).
The third period saw both teams seesaw back and forth with neither team leading by more than three points until at the 2:25 mark when NJIT closed out the period on a short 7-4 run, sparked by a three-pointer from the wing by Aria Myers to take a two point lead, 49-47, heading into the fourth quarter.
NJIT started out the fourth quarter on a 7-0 run capped by a layup by Kenna Squier at the 4:22 mark. NJIT held CCSU scoreless until the 4:04 mark and the Blue Devils used a 12-1 run to take a 59-57 lead at the 1:13 mark. NJIT's Williams made one of two from the free throw line with five seconds remaining in regulation as the Highlanders were down, 59-58. CCSU's Toppin made one of two of her own on the next possession to go up by two as NJIT's head coach Mike Lane called for a timeout to set up a play. Williams tied the game at 60-all with 1.4 seconds left, forcing overtime for the first time this season.
NJIT will return to action on Tuesday, Nov. 22 when the Highlanders visit LIU in Brooklyn, N.Y. Tipoff slated for 7 p.m. on NEC Front Row.
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VIDEO: NJIT Highlights vs. CCSU
VIDEO: Post Game Interview with Mike Lane and Trinity Williams
VIDEO: Post Game Report with Assistant Coach Aaron Gratch