NEWARK, N.J. (Interstat) — In a game defined by defensive grit and offensive inefficiency, the Maryland-Baltimore County Retrievers escaped the Fleisher Athletic Center with a 52-51 victory over the NJIT Highlanders in a women’s America East Conference basketball thriller on Thursday night.

The contest, witnessed by 334 fans, was a stark contrast to the teams’ first meeting just three weeks prior, an 80-75 NJIT win. This rematch was a defensive slugfest where neither team could find consistent scoring rhythm. The Retrievers (9-9, 4-3 America East) shot a frigid 26% from the field, while the Highlanders (13-7, 5-2) were more efficient at 43.2% but were severely limited in opportunities, committing 20 turnovers and securing only three offensive rebounds all game.

NJIT, which entered as a heavy favorite according to advanced metrics, controlled the early stages. Led by a dominant first quarter from guard Alejandra Zuniga of Madrid, Spain, who finished with a game-high 22 points, the Highlanders built a 19-14 lead after one period. Their interior defense, anchored by 6-foot-2 freshman Kyleigh Welsh of Clearwater, Florida, who swatted away seven shots, repeatedly turned back UMBC attempts at the rim. The Retrievers’ offensive struggles deepened in the second and third quarters, managing just 17 combined points as NJIT extended its lead to 42-31 heading into the final frame.

The narrative of the game, however, flipped dramatically in the fourth quarter. UMBC’s relentless pressure defense and work on the glass, where they finished with a staggering 22 offensive rebounds leading to 19 second-chance points, finally wore down the Highlanders. A 12-2 run, fueled by steals and putbacks, brought the Retrievers back. The pivotal sequence came in the final minute with NJIT clinging to a 50-49 lead. After a turnover, UMBC’s Jade Tillman of Rockville, Maryland, who led her team with 17 points, drove for a layup to put the Retrievers ahead 51-50 with 28 seconds remaining.

On the ensuing possession, Zuniga was fouled and calmly sank both free throws to restore a 51-50 NJIT edge with 28 seconds on the clock. UMBC called a timeout to set up a final play. Out of the stoppage, the ball again found Tillman, who converted another driving layup with just four seconds remaining to give UMBC a 52-51 lead. NJIT had one final chance, but Olivia Kulyk’s pull-up jumper from the elbow as time expired missed, securing the comeback victory for the Retrievers.

Beyond Tillman’s clutch performance, UMBC’s Carmen Yanez of the Canary Islands, Spain, dished out six assists and spearheaded the defensive effort with three steals. For NJIT, Kulyk added 11 points and three blocks, while Welsh’s seven blocks were a key part of a 12-block team effort that nearly won the game.

The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for NJIT and created a logjam near the top of the America East standings. UMBC, meanwhile, continued its mid-season resurgence, winning its third conference game in its last four outings. Both teams return to conference play on Saturday, Jan. 24, with UMBC traveling to face Massachusetts-Lowell and NJIT hosting Albany.