NJIT Closes Out 2021 with Win, Holds Off Defending America East Champion Stony Brook

The NJIT women's basketball team closed out 2021 with a win, holding off defending America East Champions Stony Brook, en route to a 54-49 home victory to open league action inside NJIT's Wellness and Events Center Thursday afternoon.

NJIT, which knocked off Stony Brook, who was ranked No. 7 in the latest CollegeInside.com Mid Major Top 25 poll, recorded its sixth win of the season (the most wins since the 2018-19 season).

The Highlanders moved to .500 (6-6 overall, 1-0 in the America East) while the Seawolves suffered its second loss of the season, falling to 9-2 overall, 0-1 in the America East.

NJIT held Stony Brook to just 28.1 percent shooting from the field and a season-low 49 points to earn the victory behind a team-best 11 points from Kenna Squier.  Squier shot 4-of-9 from the field and added four rebounds. 

"You have to win with defense and we showed that today," fourth-year head coach Mike Lane added.  "It was a really great effort by the team today."

In addition to Squier, freshman Trinity Williams came off the bench and notched 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the field to go along with four rebounds in just 14 minutes of action.

Sophomore point guard Lyzi Litwinko nearly missed, combining for a double-double, adding eight points and game-best nine rebounds to go along with two assists.

Lilly Anderson contributed off the bench and added seven points and three rebounds in 15 minutes.

Stony Brook had three players reach double figures placed by a game-best Anastasia Warren (15), Gigi Gonzalez (14) and Leighah-Amori Wool (11).

NJIT scored the first six points of the contest against Stony Brook and went into the under five media timeout ahead of the Seawolves, 9-2.  NJIT finished the quarter on a 6-0 run for a 16-4 advantage at the end of the first 10 minutes.

Stony Brook used an 11-2 run to open the second quarter, cutting the Highlander deficit to three, 18-15, after the first five minutes.  NJIT's Kenna Squier scored seven consecutive points to push the Highlander lead to seven, 23-17, at the 4:15 mark and ended the half on a 5-1 run, taking a 30-21 advantage to head into the half ahead, 30-21.

Squier led the Highlanders with seven points on 3-of-4 shooting from the field followed by six points from Trinity Williams who came off the bench in seven minutes of action.  Stony Brook's India Pagan paced all scorers at the half with nine points.

Stony Brook inched its way back into the game, cutting the Highlander deficit to three, 32-29, after a bucket by Pagan but NJIT responded on a 8-2 spurt to maintain its lead, 42-31, on a putback layup by Trinity Williams just under the one minute mark in the third quarter.

NJIT continued to keep control into the fourth quarter, scoring the first four points, extending its lead to 13, 46-33 on a jumper in the corner by Squier.  Stony Brook used a 9-0 spurt to cut the Highlander deficit to two, 48-46, just under the two minute mark.

The Highlanders would push its lead back up to six, 52-46, on a pair of free throws made by Squier and NJIT held on for the 54-49 victory.

VIDEO: NJIT Highlights 

VIDEO: Post Game Interview with Coach Mike Lane and Kenna Squier

VIDEO: Post Game Wrap up with ESPN+ Dave Popkin and Assistant Coach Aaron Gratch

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