Nine Teams, Nine Days – Over the next nine days we’ll take a look at each of the America East’s nine women’s basketball programs in a lead up to the 2023-24 season. The regular season begins on Monday, Nov. 6 with eight teams in action and the full schedule of contests can be found here.
NJIT Head Coach Mike Lane is excited about the team he has coming back in 2023-24. It’s a team that's displayed flashes of excellence, but also dropped its final four games of the season, to finish with a 13-16 record last year. This season he brings back his top six scorers and sees the experience as an asset, to go along with a couple talented underclassmen.
“It’s been great to have all that returning knowledge and experience,” said Lane. “They know what the program is about, they know how we’re supposed to practice, they know our approach.”
No one has more returning knowledge of the NJIT program than Kenna Squier, who decided to return for her graduate year with over 100 career games started and more than 1,100 points on her resume. Last year she averaged 11.0 points and 5.2 rebounds per game while shooting a career-best 47.4 percent from downtown. Seniors Aria Myers and Lyzi Litwinko should also be key contributors, with each averaging just under nine points over 3.0 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game.
Also back this season is the team’s leading scorer and #AEHoops 2022-23 Rookie of the Year Alejandra Zuniga. The guard averaged 12.3 points and 2.6 assists per game, and upped her numbers up to 14.9 points and 2.9 assists per contest in conference play. Junior Trinity Williams started 28 games up front last year, putting up 10.2 points and a team-high 6.1 boards per game with 42 blocks to hold down the middle. Lane is also excited to see how a few of his freshmen work their way into the rotation this year.
Any talk of NJIT’s non-conference schedule begins with their bout at home against Notre Dame on Nov. 12 a 2 p.m. The team opens their season on the road against Army on Nov. 6 before coming home to face Merrimack. The Highlanders stay local for the rest of the month, but begin December with a trip to Miami on Dec. 3. They conclude the month with three home games, including LIU on Dec. 31 at 1 p.m. NJIT begins conference play on Saturday, Jan. 6 at UAlbany.
NJIT – Roster - Schedule
Head Coach: Mike Lane
2022-23 Record: 13-16, 8-8 (5th)
Scoring Offense: 60.5 points per game (5th)
Scoring Defense: 63.8 points per game (7th)
Off. Rebounds/Game: 35.2 per game (4th)
Returning Starters (5)
Alejandra Zuniga, G – 12.3 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 2.6 apg
Kenna Squier, G – 11.0 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 38 steals
Trinity Williams, F – 10.2 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 1.5 bpg
Aria Myers, G – 8.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg
Liyzi Litwinko, G – 8.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg
Notable Newcomers (5)
Madilyn Dogs, G - freshman
Audrey Kormann, F - freshman
Marissa Gingrich, G - Freshman
Fans will once again be able to watch every #AEHoops home game on The AE on ESPN with all games airing on ESPN+ or ESPN3 domestically and AmericaEast.TV internationally.
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