NEWARK, N.J. – Longwood University dropped an 83-67 women's basketball decision on the road at the New Jersey Institute of Technology Saturday afternoon in Newark, New Jersey. The Lancers were led by freshman Sierra Fletcher/Utica, Ohio (Utica) with a game-high and career-high 23 points as their record is now 6-17. The Highlanders were led by Jackie McCaffrey with 22 points as the hosts improved their record to 6-16. Longwood will play again on Tuesday, February 17, at Presbyterian College of the Big South Conference in Clinton, South Carolina beginning at 7 p.m..

Longwood took an early 2-0 lead with a layup from sophomore Cierra Baker/Windsor, Conn. (Windsor) just 25-seconds into the game. It was 6-6 at 15:28 after a drive and basket by Fletcher who scored 13 first-half points. NJIT, however, used a 10-2 run to take a 16-8 advantage at 12:07 after a three-point field goal from Kehinde Oyekola. The Lancers battled back to within 25-19 with 6:52 on the clock following a three-pointer by freshman Lindsey Martin/Mechanicsville (Atlee). The Highlanders, though, went on an 8-0 run with points from three different players to lead 33-19 at 4:03, and the hosts led 42-27 at the intermission behind 12 first-half points from McCaffery.

Longwood scored the first two baskets of the second half to trail 42-31 at 19:02 as sophomore Krystal Garrison/Fredericksburg (Courtland) and senior Anna Steg/Vienna (George C. Marshall) tallied field goals. NJIT again responded, this time with a 10-2 run with points from four different players to lead 52-33 at 15:13. The Lancers, though, refused to quit and closed to within 62-51 on another three-pointer from Martin that capped an 18-10 run. The Highlanders, however, answered with four consecutive three-pointers to stretch the margin to 23 points at 74-51 with 6:17 left on the clock. The visitors were able to pull within 81-67 at 1:24 following back-to-back three-pointers from Fletcher and Martin that ended a late 16-7 run before the hosts added a final basket.

Fletcher finished with her game-high and career-high 23 points (7-10 FG, 1-3 3FG, 8-8 FT), adding a game-high and career-high six rebounds as well, along with three assists and two steals to lead Longwood. Martin finished with a career-high 12 points (4-6 3FG) off the bench, while Steg added nine points for the Lancers. LU shot 52% (25-48) from the field, including 36% (5-14) on three-point field goals, and 80% (12-15) at the free throw line.

McCaffrey finished with her 22 points (4-4 3FG), adding four assists to lead NJIT. Jill Dickinson had 15 points (5-8 3FG), while Oyekola added nine points (3-4 3FG) for the Highlanders. NJIT shot 51% (31-61) from the field, including 61% (14-23) on three-pointers, and 70% (7-10) at the line. The Highlanders avenged an 84-80 overtime loss to Longwood in Farmville earlier this season on January 4.