Ewing, NJ – The Montclair State women's basketball team fell from the ranks of the unbeaten teams on Saturday as the No. 8/11 Red Hawks were knocked off by The College of New Jersey, 49-40 at Packer Hall.
Senior
SAGE BENNETT scored 11 points while junior
KATIE SIRE added eight along with 12 rebounds as Montclair fell to 14-1 overall, 7-1 in the NJAC. The loss snapped MSU's 10-game win streak against the Lions, who beat Montclair for the first time since a 65-61 win in Ewing on January 22, 2010. The 40 points by MSU were its fewest since a 60-38 loss to TCNJ in the 2007 NJAC Tournament on February 20.
The Red Hawks struggled shooting the basketball making just 25 percent of its attempts (16-of-63), including 3-of-24 from behind the arc. Despite those struggles, MSU trailed just 11-8 at the end of the first quarter before those woes took center stage in the second period when TCNJ took control.
Montclair went 2-of-13 from the floor while the Lions were 6-of-13 and outscored the Red Hawks 17-6 to take a 14-point halftime lead. Christine Woods began a six-point run by TCNJ to open the period. Nikki Schott had the final four of the spurt widening the New Jersey lead to 17-8. Schott's three-point play pushed the deficit to double digits and a three from Charlotte Schum made it 26-12 with 1:08 left in before halftime. Dana Kim added two free throws as TCNJ led 28-14 at the break.
TCNJ maintained its margin throughout the third and into the fourth before the Red Hawks made a run to get within five points on three occasions. A three-pointer by
RACHAEL KRAUSS with 45 seconds left got MSU within 45-40. But Schum and Kate O'Leary combined for four free throws to seal the victory for the Lions.
ZOE CURTIS finished with seven points and four rebounds while
KATE TOBIE added four points, three rebounds and five assists.
Montclair State will look to rebound on Wednesday, January 18 when it hosts Kean University at the Panzer Athletic Center beginning at 6:00 pm. MSU registered a 62-53 victory against the Cougars in Union back on November 22.
