St. Petersburg, FL – Junior forward ALEX MCKINNON scored 20 points however Albright College kept the Red Hawks in check during the second half for a 57-45 victory in the St. Petersburg Classic on Thursday.

Sophomore KAYLA BUSH had seven points and nine rebounds for MSU (9-4), which dropped its second straight game. Dejah Terrell finished with 17 points leading three players in double-figures for the Lions (5-8), which outscored Montclair 31-19 in the second half.

Knotted at 26-26 entering the third, Zahira Mohamed converted a three-point play to open the half and added a jumper a minute later giving Albright a five-point advantage. Bush countered with a basket for MSU however Gabby Boggs and Allison Dienes each had a field goal making the score 35-28 with 5:17 to play in the period. McKinnon's three-pointer with a minute left pulled MSU within 37-34 before Boggs connected from the foul line putting Albright up 38-34 heading into the fourth.

Montclair State trimmed the deficit to one possession three times in the fourth, including 47-45 on a McKinnon jumper with 4:56 left. The Lions answered with a 10-point run to close out the contest. Dejah Terrell scored eight of those including a three-pointer with 1:19 left for the final points.

McKinnon grabbed six rebounds for MSU, which got six points each from TAYLOR BROWN and TRISHA PETERSON. CERYS MACLELLAND chipped in with five rebounds and eight assists.

The Red Hawks are now off until Saturday, January 5 when it returns to action in New Jersey Athletic Conference play. Montclair heads to Rowan University for a 1:00 pm tipoff in Glassboro.