NJIT WBB Drops Third Straight in Loss to Vermont

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The NJIT WBB Team(8-8, 0-3 America East) faced the Vermont Catamounts(11-7, 3-1 America East) at the Joel and Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center in Newark, New Jersey.

NJIT was coming off a 70-67 loss to UMass Lowell, which sent the Highlanders to their second consecutive defeat. Four players scored in double figures, led by Alejandra Zuniga’s 16 points.

Vermont, the reigning and defending 2022-23 Co-America East regular season, then conference champions, came out blazing out of the gates, jumping out to a 9-3 lead. The Catamounts extended their advantage to double digits at 16-6 with three minutes left. Emma Utterback is unstoppable on the offensive end, tallying seven points.

NJIT managed to trim the deficit to 16-10 with two and a half minutes remaining, but Vermont bumped the margin to 22-12 at the end of the period, highlighted by Delaney Richason knocking down a jumper at the buzzer. The Catamounts shooting a sizzling 62 percent from the field and controlling points in the paint 14-8.

The Highlanders started the second quarter brighter with a 5-0 spurt that cut the gap to 24-17. Lily Anderson converted a three-point play on a sensational layup off the glass, followed by Trinity Williams, who hit free throws.

Once again, Vermont responded with a run by capitalizing on turnovers, especially five traveling calls, to increase the margin to 29-19.

“Vermont’s really good, and they were shooting 60 percent through the first 15 minutes of the game, and that’s some of our defense,” NJIT Head Coach Mike Lane explained. “They have all-conference kids, really good, and Anna Olson doesn’t miss in this building and really tough to cover, but we got her into some foul trouble.”

NJIT overcame those miscues as Alejandra Zuniga scored her eighth point in the first half on a trifecta. Despite 11 turnovers committed, the Highlanders controlled the boards and second-chance points as they drew to within 33-24 at halftime. NJIT is efficient from the free throw line, knocking down six of seven shots.

“We were able to make a run in the second quarter because we had (Anna)Olson out of the game,” Head Coach Mike Lane described. “Trinity(Williams) established herself low and pleased with the effort.” “We got to the free throw line a lot more in the second quarter, which is great, and rebounding, especially offensively, was really good.”

In the third quarter, the Catamounts exploded for a 6-0 run in the first minute of action to widen their lead. Paula Gonzalez netted four out of the six points. Vermont kept stretching the margin as the quarter progressed, and by the time the period ended, it led 54-36.

Both Emma Utterback and Anna Olson reached double figures with 12 points apiece. The Catamounts seized points in the paint 14-4 and pitched a shutout in fast break points 7-0. The Highlanders bench provided a spark with nine points while winning second-chance points 6-2 and rebounds 15-8.

“I feel we were there at nine points, but Vermont came out and had a breakaway layup because we had a turnover in the first possession and in 90 seconds went from nine to 15,” Head Coach Mike Lane cited. “We kept fighting and clawing but you can’t just do that against the defending champs.”

After shooting 17 percent in the third quarter, NJIT bounced back in the final frame to shooting at a 53 percent clip. The Highlanders were able to chip away at the deficit and close to within 11 points, but Vermont eventually coasted to the 68-55 victory.

Alejandra Zuniga totaled a game-high 16 points, while Trinity Williams registered her second-straight double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Lyzi Litwinko also followed Williams’s achievement with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Emma Utterback poured 20 points for Vermont, Anna Olson contributed 16 points, and Paula Gonzalez added 10 points.

“I’m upset we didn’t win but pleased with our intensity and passion today, and that’s been something we’ve been kind of up and down, and we didn’t have that collective energy for 40 minutes against Albany and on Thursday against UMass Lowell,” Head Coach Mike Lane stated.

“Paula(Gonzalez) is a big guard, and (Emma) Utterback is so athletic and long and fast and a reason Vermont is the defending champions for a reason.” “We got to find a way to keep things under 60, and we didn’t do that, but 55 points against a Vermont defense is a win right now, and we just got to figure that out.”

NJIT hits the road for the next three games, starting on Thursday, January 18th, at the New Hampshire Wildcats(6-11, 0-4 America East), followed by Maine on  Saturday, January 20th, and concluding on Thursday, January 25th, at Bryant.

“It’s one game at a time and obviously a long trip  \but I’m happy we not going down and back like last year,” Head Coach Mike Lane noted. “We got to be ready to play and we’re playing a New Hampshire club that is much improved.” “Maine is an incredibly tough place, but we have won there before, so we have the confidence to go in there and win, and we’re away at Bryant after that.”

“We’re 0-3 and don’t love that, but today we showed progress, and we’re getting better.” “It’s a little different us because I think we’ve had good early Januarys in years past, but we’re getting Lyzi(Litwinko) back and Maddie(Madilyn) Dogs and building some more depth, and they’ll be big for a stretch run.” “Vermont lost their first two last year, then won 17 in a row, and it’s possible, so we just got to take care of business.”

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