Women's Basketball Wins Big in 61-49 Victory at Wisconsin, Squier and Stoll Net 14 Points Each

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The NJIT women's basketball team picked up its first win of the season and it was a big one, as the Highlanders recorded its first Big Ten program win with a 61-49 victory at Wisconsin paced by 14 points each from veterans Ellyn Stoll and Kenna Squier in women's basketball action Sunday afternoon at the Kohl Center.

NJIT, which found themselves down 45-43 in the fourth quarter, outscored Wisconsin, 18-2 in the final 6:24 to secure the program's first Big Ten victory. NJIT's Stoll knocked down back-to-back three-pointers to rally the Highlanders and take its biggest lead of the contest, 14, 61-47, after a free throw by Lyzi Litwinko.

"That was a program defining win, a lifetime memory and that is never going to go away," fourth-year head coach Mike Lane added postgame. "It didn't look great after Wisconsin took the lead in the fourth quarter, we have been there before.  I really thought our veterans Ellyn (Stoll) hit two big three-pointers and Kimi (Evans) controlled the boards to get us back into it. Kenna (Squier) left-hand finish, offensive board and assist to Grace (Plummer) were big time plays at big time moments."

NJIT, which combined for a season-best 60 points, shot 40.7 from the field (22-for-54), 33.3 from three-point range (7-for-21), 71.4 from the free throw line (10-for-14) and out-rebounded the Badgers, 40-to-31. The Highlanders held Wisconsin to 33.9% from the field and 17.6% from downtown.

Stoll, the Highlanders fifth-year guard, combined for a season-best 14 points on 4-of-9 shooting from downtown while Squier registered 14 points on 5-of-11 shooting from the field, 4-for-5 from the free throw line, seven rebounds and five assists.

Redshirt senior Kimi Evans recorded eight points and game-best nine rebounds on 4-of-8 from the field. Sophomore guard Lyzi Litwinko chipped in nine points, five rebounds. Grace Plummer pulled down six rebounds in 13 minutes of action for the Highlanders.

Wisconsin's Sydney Hilliard led all scorers with 18 points followed by Sara Stapletown with 16.  

In the first five minutes, NJIT jumped out to a 9-2 lead capped by a three-pointer by Maria Fux and headed into the under five media timeout with a 9-4 lead.  Wisconsin used a 6-0 run sparked by a Sara Stapleton layup, slimming the Highlander lead to one, 9-8, at the 3:30 mark.  Kendle Dalrymple sank a three-pointer for a 12-10 advantage at the 1:33 mark. 

Stoll knocked down a three-pointer 1:03 into the second quarter and Trinity Williams added a layup high off the glass, increasing the Highlander lead to eight, 18-10. 

The Badgers got on the board 3:45 into the quarter with a long two-pointer by Katie Nelson. Squier completed a three-point play at the 5:06 mark as the Highlander held a 21-14 lead. The Badgers scored 11 straight points and regained the lead, 25-21, on an old-fashioned three-point play by Hilliard.  Litwinko's floater in the paint and free throw put the Highlanders up by one, 26-25, heading into the half. 

NJIT continued its momentum into the third quarter, using a 10-3 spurt to push the Highlander advantage to eight, 36-28, capped by a Kimi Evans layup, resulting in a Badger timeout at the 5:26 mark. The Badgers rallied back to cut the Highlander deficit to two, 43-41, in the final minute of the third quarter.

NJIT will return home and host LIU on Thursday, Nov. 18 inside NJIT's Wellness and Events Center. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m.