NJIT Women's Basketball Cruises to Victory on Senior Day, Secures Spot in #AEPlayoffs
NJIT graduate student Kenna Squier scored a team-best 15 points, leading the Highlanders to a 64-38 home victory on Senior Day over visiting Bryant in the final America East Conference regular season game inside the Joel and Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center.
NJIT (12-17 overall, 4-12 AE), winners of the last three out of four games, secured the No. 7 spot in the 2024 #AEPlayoffs will face No. 2 UAlbany on Friday, March 8 at 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
NJIT Highlights (Video)
Photo Gallery
Senior Day Presentations (Video)
Post Game Wrap Up w/ Assistant Coach Aaron Gratch (Video)
Post Game Interview w/ head coach Mike Lane and Kenna Squier
In pregame ceremonies, NJIT honored its six graduating seniors – Kenna Squier, Lindsey Syrek, Aria Myers, Lyzi Litwinko, Kiana Brereton, and Lilly Anderson. NJIT also recognized over 30 women's basketball alumnae in attendance at halftime.
NJIT led 18-10 after the first 10 minutes of the game and outscored the visiting Bulldogs, 15-7, in the second quarter for a 16-point halftime lead, 33-17. The third quarter was the closest of the four, 15-12, but the Highlanders kept their foot on the pedal, outsourcing the Bulldogs in the final stanza, 16-9, securing its fourth win in league play.
Squier finished the game with a team-best 15 points, shooting 5-for-7 from the field, 3-of-4 from three-point range and 2-of-2 from the free throw line to go along with two assists and two steals.
Junior forward Trinity Williams combined for nine points, four rebounds and three blocks followed by Alejandra Zuniga eight points, six rebounds and three assists. Senior Lyzi Litwinko tallied six points and six rebounds while three different players – Kiana Brereton, Lilly Anderson and Marissa Gingrich each chipped in five points in victory.
Senior Aria Myers shared game-high honors with eight rebounds while Litwinko and Zuniga grabbed six each.
After an early 5-5 tie, NJIT used a 12-3 spurt to take its biggest lead of the contest, 17-8, on a three-pointer by Alejandra Zuniga. After the first 10, NJIT held an eight-point lead, 18-10, led by eight points by Kenna Squier as the Highlanders shot 46.7 percent from the field.
NJIT took a double-digit lead, 22-12, at the 7:01 mark of the second quarter on a layup by Alejandra Zuniga as the Highlanders finished outscored Bryant, 15-7, to take a 16-point lead at the half led by a game-best 10 points from Squier.
The Highlanders continued its run, 14-3, into the third quarter over a span of 7:18, capped by a three-pointer from Kenna Squier at the 4:24 mark for a 45-20 lead. Bryant scored nine straight to cut the Highlander deficit to, 18, 47-29 with 1:15 left in the quarter.
NJIT used a quick 5-0 run to begin the fourth quarter – all coming from freshman Marissa Gingrich on a three-pointer from the top and driving a layup to give NJIT a 52-31 lead at the 8:30 mark and never looked back, maintaining its double-digit lead and taking its biggest lead of the game, 30, 64-34, behind an 8-0 run.