Montclair, NJ – Sophomore forward ALEX MCKINNON scored a career-high 22 points and grabbed nine rebounds as Montclair State registered its fifth straight victory downing Rowan University 61-48 at the Panzer Athletic Center on Saturday afternoon.

Senior KATIE SIRE added 17 points and classmate TAYLOR HARMON chipped in with 14 as the Red Hawks improved to 8-1 on the season while remaining unbeaten in the NJAC at 5-0. MSU also recorded its sixth straight win over the Profs (5-4, 3-2 NJAC) and lead the all-time series 50-32.

Alex Raring and April Szymczyk posted 17 and 15 points respectively for Rowan, which had its three-game winning streak snapped.

The Profs held a trio of early leads, including a 5-4 advantage with 7:12 to play. But the Red Hawks limited the visitors to just three points the rest of the period and took a 6-5 lead after Harmon sank two free throws. McKinnon would add two from the line and then scored on a short jumper wih 5:24 left for a 10-5 lead. Rowan cut it back to 10-8 in the final 90 seconds however Katie Tobi and Sire each put in layups for a 14-8 MSU lead after one period.

Raring's three-point play with nine minutes to go in the second pulled the Profs within 14-13 however Montclair exploded with a 17-0 run over the next eight minutes to forge an 18-point advantage. Harmon ignited the run with a jumper in the paint. Sire had nine point in the spurt with McKinnon and Harmon accounting for the eight giving MSU a 31-13 lead with 1:40 to play before halftime.

Montclair, which led 31-18 at the break saw its advantage dip to 38-27 with 4:12 to play in the third but McKinnon countered with a layup and three over the next minute pushing the lead back to 43-27. The Red Hawks maintained their lead in the fourth. Rowan managed to get within 56-48 in in the final 69 seconds however Harmon sank three free throws and Sire made two to seal the win for MSU.

Sire grabbed seven rebounds with Harmon collecting six as Montclair State outrebounded the Profs, 46-34, including 19-7 on the offensive glass. Tobie added five points, five rebounds, three assists and a team-high four steals.

The Red Hawks are back in action on Tuesday, December 12 at home against Brooklyn College. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:00 pm.