Galloway Township, NJ – A big third-quarter effort by Stockton University proved to be the difference as the Ospreys knocked off Montclair State, 65-54 at the Stockton Sports Center on Wednesday evening.
 
Junior SAGE BENNETT scored 18 points and grabbed six rebounds for Montclair State. It was the fourth loss in the last six games for the Red Hawks, who fell to 10-5 on the season, 6-2 in the NJAC.  Najha Treadwell posted a double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds for Stockton (11-3, 6-2 NJAC), which captured its ninth straight contest.
 
MSU struggled in the shooting department making just 18-of-70 attempts from the field (26 percent), including 7-of-27 from three-point range (26 percent).
 
The Red Hawks jumped out to an 8-2 lead as KATE TOBIE scored on a layup with 6:44 left. The Ospreys knotted the game at 10-10 with three minutes remaining in the first quarter however Bennett's put back with 59 ticks left gave MSU the lead. But Stockton's Jazmin Palma hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to give the Ospreys a 15-14 lead.
 
Sasha Williams opened the scoring in the second with a basket extending the lead to three for the Ospreys but the Red Hawks answered with a 12-2 run over a five-plus minute span to take a seven-point lead. Bennett scored seven of those points with freshman FAITH ASHBY capping the run with 4:13 to go as Montclair led 26-19. Treadwell's jumper trimmed the MSU lead to 28-25 with 26 seconds however YAZMINE LACEY hit from close range as Montclair State led 30-25 at halftime.
 
Montclair held on to that lead until 6:24 remaining in the third when Mendolla sank a pair of free throws making the score 37-35. Christina Taylor extended the lead to four points before a basket by Ashby got MSU within 43-42. Lacey later scored again bringing the Red Hawks within a point again however Treadwell's layup with 18 seconds staked Stockton to a 49-44 lead after three periods.
 
Stockton opened the fourth with six of the first seven points for a 56-45 advantage on Williams' free throw with 5:41 left. MSU would creep back within five points at 57-52 on a three by RACHAEL KRAUSS but that was answered on the other end by Mendolla, whose three-pointer restored the lead to 60-52.
 
Krauss had six points and nine rebounds for Montclair State while KATIE SIRE chipped in with three points, 10 rebounds and five assists. Tobie and TAYLOR HARMON had five points and three rebounds each with Lacey chipping in with eight points and three rebounds.  
 
Montclair State is back home on Saturday, January 16 for a 3:00 pm NJAC matchup with New Jersey City University. It will be the Red Hawks' annual charity game with all proceeds going to benefit Camp Quality.