Mahwah, NJ – Junior guard
Janitza Aquino (Kearny, NJ, Kearny) scored 14 of her game-high 17 points in the first half leading three Red Hawks in double figures as No. 3 Montclair State remained unbeaten as it knocked off Ramapo College 78-44 at the Bradley Center on Saturday afternoon.
Junior
Melissa Tobie (Elizabeth, NJ, Roselle Catholic) and senior
Nicosia Henry (Bolingbrook, IL, Bolingbrook) had 10 points apiece for the MSU, which improved to 6-0 overall, 4-0 in the NJAC.
Micaela Moore had 13 points for the Roadrunners (4-4, 2-2 NJAC).
Aquino, who hit the game-winning three-pointer in Wednesday's 70-68 win at Rutgers-Newark, picked up where she left off sinking an attempt from behind the arc on the first shot of Saturday's game helping Montclair to an early 11-4 lead with 15:30 to play in the opening half. The Red Hawks would maintain that advantage before going on an 11-0 run near the midway point of the half. Aquino had four points in the run, including a free throw with 11:06 to play for a 26-9 advantage.
Ramapo chipped away at the lead and got it down to seven points at 34-27 before Henry closed out the half with a fast-break layup before the final horn giving Montclair a nine-point lead at the break.
In the second half, Montclair clamped down on the Roadrunners outscoring the hosts 42-17 over the final 20 minutes. MSU limited the Roadrunners to just 3-of-20 shooting.
Tobie netted the first four points of the half for MSU, which widened its lead to 51-32 on a three-pointer by Aquino with 15:06 left.
Jenny Malone (North Plainfield, NJ, Roselle Catholic) finished with nine points, four rebound and six assists while Tobie and Henry each snared six rebounds apiece.
Sandra Gee (Allentown, PA, Emmaus) chipped in with five points and seven rebounds while freshman
Rachael Krauss (Farmingdale, NJ, Colts Neck) grabbed a team-best eight rebounds.
The Red Hawks return to action on Tuesday, December 10 as they stay out on the road. Montclair State heads to Poughkeepsie, NY facing Vassar College at 7:00 pm.
