The NJIT women's basketball team rang in the New Year with its second straight America East Conference victory with a 60-56 road win at UMass Lowell Sunday afternoon inside Costello Athletic Center.
NJIT, which starts its third season in the America East, begins league action 2-0 for the second straight season, improving to 7-7 overall. Last season, NJIT opened up league play 4-0.
Leading the Highlanders to victory in the New Year was junior Aria Myers and Alejandra Zuniga who shared game-high honors with 18 points. Myers went 5-for-9 from the field, 2-of-2 from three-point range and 6-for-8 from the free throw line. Zuniga came off the bench and finished 7-for-13 from the field and 3-of-3 from the free throw line.
Trinity Williams chipped in 10 points while Kenna Squier added nine points as both shot 4-for-5 from the field.
The Highlanders out-rebounded the River Hawks, 36-to-26, paced by Squier with seven rebounds, Lilly Anderson (6), Williams (4), Myers (4) and Lyzi Litwinko (4).
UMass Lowell had three players in double-digits paced by Ivory Finley's 14 points followed by Jaliena Sanchez (12) and Amaya Dowdy (12). Finley shared game-high honors with Squier, pulling down seven rebounds.
NJIT started off the 2023 season on an 11-2 run, capped by a three-pointer by Aria Myers just below the five-minute media timeout. NJIT finished the first 10 minutes, shooting 58.7 percent from the field (7-for-12) and out-rebounded UMass Lowell, 13-to-6, led by five points by Aria Myers for a 15-9 advantage.
Freshman Alejandra Zuniga scored the first five points of the second quarter, including a reverse layup to put NJIT ahead by eight, 20-12, resulting in a UMass Lowell timeout at the 6:30 mark.
UMass Lowell scored six unanswered points late in the quarter, cutting the Highlander deficit to four, 23-19, with 1:58 on the clock. The River Hawks closed out the final two minutes on a 7-5 run, slimming the Highlander lead to three, 27-24, at the half.
Zuniga led all players with a game-best 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting from the field followed by Myers (5), Kenna Squier (4) and Lilly Anderson (4).
UMass Lowell took its first lead of the contest opening up the third quarter on a 6-3 spurt and capped by a pair of free throws by Sydney Coombs for a 31-30 lead. NJIT went on a 11-2 run sparked by a three-pointer by Zuniga as the Highlanders took a 41-35 advantage at the two minute mark.
The River Hawks opened the fourth period on a 9-2 spurt to take the lead, 49-48, on a layup at the seven-minute mark. NJIT scored five quick points to go back ahead, 53-49, and held a five-point advantage, 57-52, after a second chance layup by Williams with 2:15 on the clock.
UMass Lowell cut the NJIT lead down to two, 58-56, with 1:23 and had an opportunity to tie the game with :04 left on the clock on a jumper outside the paint by Edmonds which hit the front of the rim. Myers sank a pair of free throws with .8 seconds on the clock as NJIT secured the 60-56 road victory at UMass Lowell.
NJIT will return to action on Saturday when the Highlanders host Maine. Tip off is slated for 2 p.m. on ESPN3 inside NJIT's Wellness and Events Center.