Montclair, NJ – Senior guard
KAYLA CEBALLOS scored 14 points while freshman guard
TIARRA DILLARD added 11 off the bench as No. 9/12 Montclair State used another strong second-half surge in a 73-48 victory over Kean University at the Panzer Athletic Center on Tuesday evening.
Junior guard
RACHAEL KRAUSS added nine points and 10 rebounds for the Red Hawks (4-0, 2-0 NJAC), who remained unbeaten as they outscored the Cougars 45-22 in the second half.
Jante Bracewell registered a game-high 20 points along with four rebounds for Kean (3-2, 0-1), which dropped its second straight contest. Jaquetta Owens had 14 points, three rebounds and five assists.
A banked three-point by Owens at the end of the first quarter gave Kean a 16-13 lead which the Cougars would hold on to through much of the second before back-to-back three's from Dillard and Ceballos put MSU in front 27-24 with 1:45 left. Owens added another layup with a minute to play and a free throw by
YAZMINE LACEY sent MSU into halftime up 28-26.
Montclair opened the second half with a 13-2 run through the first seven minutes of the third quarter. Krauss started things off with a three and eight straight by Ceballos boosted the Red Hawks' lead to 39-26. Five straight free throws from MSU, the last by
KATE TOBIE with 2:20 to go gave Montclair the lead at 45-28 before the Red Hawks settled for a 47-36 lead at the end of the period.
A Tobie jumper and layup from
ZOE CURTIS to start the fourth pushed the lead to 51-36 and a three by Ceballos with 4:40 left got the MSU advantage to 62-42.
Tobie chipped in with eight points, five rebounds and five assists while
KATIE SIRE had six points, five rebounds and three steals. Freshman guard
FAITH ASHBY collected six points, six rebounds and three steals off the bench as the Montclair bench outscored Kean 33-2.
The Red Hawks also held a 46-31 margin on the boards, including 21 offensive rebounds which turned into 18 second-chance points. MSU also turned 23 miscues by the Cougars in to 30 points.
Montclair State returns to action on Monday, November 30 with a home contest against Moravian College at the Panzer Athletic Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:00 pm.
