NJIT Moves Back into the Win Column, Vaughan Paces NJIT with Career-High 11 Points

The NJIT women's basketball team moved back into the win column paced by a career-best 11 points from sophomore Reese Vaughan in the Highlanders 42-38 road victory at Saint Peter's in non-conference women's basketball inside the Run Baby Run Arena Saturday afternoon.

With the win, NJIT snaps a four-game skid and improves to 5-6 on the season while Saint Peter's, still in search of its first win of the 2022 season falls to 0-8.

Trailing, 32-29 heading into the fourth quarter, NJIT used a 9-3 run to take a three-point lead on a three-pointer by Vaughan, 38-35, at the 5:48 mark. Saint Peter's tied the game at 38-all with 2:36 left but the Highlanders scored the last four points of the game, including the third three-pointer of the game for Vaughan to give the Highlanders a 42-38 road victory at Saint Peter's.

In addition to Vaughan's personal-best 11 points off the bench in 26 minutes, Trinity Williams finished with 10 points, Lyzi Litwinko (8) and Kenna Squier (7). Litwinko led the Highlanders on the glass with six rebounds and four assists. Vaughan knocked down a trio of three-pointers in the win.

Saint Peter's was led by Jada Williams double double 17 points and 12 rebounds followed by 15 points by Jada Leonard, who finished 7-for-12 from the field.

The home team took an early 12-5 advantage, heading into the first media timeout behind nine points from Jada Leonard and held a 16-8 lead at the end of the first 10 minutes.

NJIT down by as many as 11 points, used a late 6-2 run in the second quarter to pull within seven points of the Peacocks, 23-16, at the under five media timeout. NJIT went on another 6-2 spurt and cut the deficit to five, 27-22, capped by a three-pointer by Kendle Dalrymple.

Leonard led all players at the half with 15 points on 7-of-9 shooting from the field while NJIT's Lyzi Litwinko and Reese Vaughan paced the Highlanders with five points each.

NJIT scored the only points of the third quarter going into the under five media timeout and Litwinko sank a three-pointer from the corner to slim the Peacock lead to two, 29-27, at the 3:23. The Highlanders outscored the Peacocks 7-3 in the quarter.

The Highlanders will take a break for a week for final exams and conclude the non-conference slate on Saturday, Dec. 17 when the Highlanders visit Wagner. Tip-off is slated for 3 p.m.

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