Women's Basketball Off to a Hot Start: Balanced Scoring Leads NJIT Past Wagner

For the second straight game, NJIT had four players reach double-figures as the Highlanders cruised to an 80-36 home victory over visiting Wagner in women's basketball non-conference action Saturday afternoon inside NJIT's Wellness and Events Center.

NJIT, off to a hot start in 2023, picked up its second straight win of the season and moved to 4-1 for the first time since the 2012-13 season.

VIDEOS: NJIT Highlights vs. Wagner | Post Game Interview w/ head coach Mike Lane and Lyzi Litwinko | Post Game Wrap Up Show w/ ESPN+ Drew Casey & Assistant Coach Payce Lange

After the first 10 minutes, NJIT led 21-9 and went into halftime with a 39-15 lead. Over the third and fourth quarters, NJIT combined for 41 points to cruise to an 80-36 victory.

The 80 points are a season-high and are the most points scored by a Highlander team since the 2019-20 season when the Highlanders defeated Saint Francis Brooklyn 88-69 in Newark.

As a team, NJIT dished out 20 assists led by freshman Marissa Gingrich and Aria Myers each combining for three each. The 20 assists are the most by a Highlander team since the 2019-20 season (28 vs. St. Francis Brooklyn; 11.26.19).

Sophomore Alejandra Zuniga netted a game-best 11 points followed by Trinity Williams (10), Lyzi Litwinko (10) and Reese Vaughan (10). Litwinko went 4-of-5 from the field and Gingrich finished 2-of-4 from three-point range.

The Highlanders held a 53-to-38 advantage on the boards, paced by Madilyn Dogs, who tied her career-high with nine rebounds. Lilly Anderson added eight boards followed by Litwinko (7), Williams (6) and Mackenzie Wright-Rawls (5).

A quick 17-4 start for the Highlanders in the opening seven minutes led by Alejandra Zuniga with five points. Lyzi Litwinko paced NJIT with six points through the first 10 minutes as the Highlanders led 21-9.

NJIT opened the second quarter with a 12-2 spurt to push the Highlander lead to as many as 20, 31-11, at the 4:41 mark and took its biggest lead of the contest, 24, heading into the locker room with a 39-15 advantage.

Lyzi Litwinko led all scorers with 10 points followed by Alejandra Zuniga (9) and Trinity Williams (8) after the first 20 minutes.

As a team, the Highlanders shot 50% from the field (9-for-18), committed only five turnovers and dished out nine assists.

After a layup to open the third quarter by Wagner, NJIT scored the next six in a row capped by a layup by Madilyn Dogs at the 8:40 mark for a 45-17 lead. The Highlanders used another short run, 6-1, over a span of 3:30 for a 51-20 advantage after a layup from Mackenzie Wright-Rawls.

Freshman Marissa Gingirch sparked an 8-3 run, sinking her first collegiate points, draining a three-pointer from the right wing and the Highlanders extended its lead to 30+ at the end of the third quarter, 59-25.

NJIT tallied 21 fourth-quarter points and cruised to a 80-36 victory.

As a team, NJIT finished the game shooting an impressive 49.2 percent from the field (32-for-65) and 60 percent from the free throw line (9-for-15). The Highlanders netted 44 points in the paint and scored 37 bench points in the home victory.

The 44-point win margin against Wagner is the most against a Division I opponent since February 12, 2012 when NJIT defeated Houston Baptist by 60-points, 88-28.

Next Up
After playing four in a row at home, NJIT will play its next five games on the road, first visiting Lafayette before the Thanksgiving holiday Nov. 22 at 6 p.m.

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