Lyzi Litwinko's Double-Double Leads NJIT Back into the Win Column

Sophomore guard Lyzi Litwinko combined for her fourth career double-double, netting a personal-best 22 points and 10 rebounds as the Highlanders moved back into the win column with a 58-48 victory over visiting Binghamton in America East Conference women's basketball action inside NJIT's Wellness and Events Center.

With the win, NJIT sweeps the season series from Binghamton (defeated the Bearcats 66-64 on January 8), improving to 10-8 overall, 5-2 in the conference. Binghamton falls to 4-9 overall, 0-3 the conference.

The 10 wins are the most since the 2016-17 season when NJIT finished with 11. Competing in its second season of the America East, the Highlanders have set a new mark with five wins with a month and half of basketball left in conference action.

Litwinko, the Highlanders 5-foot-8 guard, has scored in double-figures in the last three out of four games with a personal-best mark of 22 points (surpassing her old mark; 20 at Lafayette). She finished 8-for-15 from the field, 6-of-7 from the charity strip while pulling down a team-best 10 rebounds.

Forward Kiana Brereton came off the bench to score nine points and added five rebounds in 16 minutes of action followed by Aria Myers with seven points on 3-of-6 shooting from the field.

Binghamton had two players reach double-figures paced by Denai Bowman's team-best 14 points followed by Birna Benonysdottir with 13 points. Clare Traeger led all players with 13 rebounds.

NJIT used an early 6-0 run in the first three minutes and extended its lead to 9-3, heading into the first media timeout. Binghamton scored the next five points, cutting the Highlanders deficit to one, 9-8, at the 3:20 mark. NJIT held a 13-8 lead after the first 10 minutes behind four points from Kimi Evans.

Lyzi Litwinko scored four of the Highlanders six points to start the second period, pushing the NJIT lead to 19-9, resulting in a Binghamton timeout at the 5:23 mark. The visitors scored the next 13 straight, closing out the period on a 17-4 run for a five-point lead, 26-21.

Binghamton's Denai Bowman led all players with seven points while NJIT's top scorer Lyzi Litwinko chipped in with six points and six rebounds.

The visitors controlled the tempo to begin the third quarter, scoring eight straight, pulling out in front by nine, 30-21. NJIT responded using a big 19-3 run and outscored the Bearcats 19-9 in the quarter, holding a five-point lead, 40-35.

Binghamton started off the fourth quarter on an 8-0 spurt to take a three-point lead, 43-40. NJIT answered with a run of their own, 16-0, extending the Highlanders lead to 13, 56-43.

NJIT will wrap up its two-game homestand, welcoming UMBC Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. In the first meetings of the season, NJIT earned the win at UMBC, 72-58.

VIDEO: NJIT Highlights

VIDEO: Post Game Interview with Coach Mike Lane and Lyzi Litwinko

VIDEO: Post Game Report with Assistant Coach Aaron Gratch 

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