VIDEO: NJIT Highlights
ALBANY–NJIT's second half rally fell just short Saturday as UAlbany held on for a 57-53 home victory over the Highlanders in America East Conference women's basketball action inside SEFCU Arena.
UAlbany, which moves to a perfect 10-0 record at home this season, improved to 13-6 overall and 6-2 in the America East while the Highlanders moved to 10-9 overall, 5-3 in the America East.
The Great Danes held a 14-6 advantage after the first 10 minutes and took a 31-17 lead at the halfway point. NJIT responded in the third quarter, outscoring the Great Danes, 20-7 and cutting what was a 15-point advantage in the second quarter to a three-point deficit, 40-37, heading into the final quarter. The fourth quarter was evenly matched 17-16 which saw the Highlanders cut the Great Dane lead to three, 56-53, with less than :30 to play.
UAlbany's Kayla Cooper paced the Great Danes with 14 points, eight rebounds and five steals in the win.
NJIT fifth-year Ellyn Stoll netted a game-best 20 points, finishing 8-for-14 from the field and five rebounds.
The Highlanders other double-figure scorer on the night was redshirt senior Kimi Evans who just missed notching a double-double with 16 points and nine rebounds, including a pair of blocks.
Kenna Squier filled up the box score, chipping in six points, grabbed seven rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block. Sophomore Aria Myers added five points and four rebounds.
NJIT got off to a quick start in the third quarter, 13-3, cutting what was a 15-lead down to four, 34-30, to close the gap behind a 7-0 spurt, resulting in a UAlbany timeout at the 4:13 mark. UAlbany used a big momentum swing, 6-0 run, to push its lead back to seven, 40-33, just under the two minute mark. NJIT outscored UAlbany, 20-9, in the third quarter and headed into the fourth quarter only down three, 40-37.
To open the fourth quarter, NJIT stayed within three points of UAlbany up until the 8:25 mark after one of two from the free throw line by Kimi Evans for a 43-42 score. The Great Danes used a 9-2 spurt for a nine-point lead, 52-44 at the 3:09 mark. Kimi Evans knocked down her fourth three-pointer of the season, slimming the Great Dane deficit to five, 52-47, with 2:40 left to play. NJIT would get as close as three on three different occasions in the final minute.
NJIT will return home on Wednesday and welcome Vermont at 5pm inside NJIT's Wellness and Events Center.
