Hartford, Conn. – The Montclair State women's basketball team was knocked off 59-49 by Springfield College in the opening day of the Trinity College Tip-Off Tournament Friday.

Montclair State (1-1) will face off with the host Bantams in the consolation game at 1 p.m. Saturday. Springfield (3-0) will meet Eastern Connecticut State University in the championship game tomorrow at 3 p.m.

After the Pride opened the scoring, the Red Hawks tallied the next five points with junior TAYLOR BROWN converting from behind the arc. Montclair ended the opening period with five of the last seven tallies, finished off with a layup from rookie NICOLE CARTER. Senior CERYS MACLELLAND continued the rally beginning the second, yet the Pride notched six straight markers to pull within a pair.

Carter connected on a triple with 3:03 left in the second quarter to give MSU a 26-22 advantage, but the Red Hawks would only hit two free throws over the final three minutes as Springfield pulled even at 28 entering halftime. Montclair only hit 4-of-12 from the field in the second period, while Springfield was 9-of-16.

The Pride took the lead back for good at the 7:03 mark of the third stanza, but the Red Hawks continued to battle. Senior ALEX MCKINNON hit a three-pointer midway through the frame to shrink the gap to one, yet Springfield notched seven of the last nine points of the quarter to take a six-point lead into the fourth.

The lead swelled to double-digits, but the Montclair was able to get to within five at 51-46 with 4:25 left as junior KAYLA BUSH hit two free-throws. MSU was unable to pull any closer, and a Carter triple with 29 seconds remaining in the fourth established the final margin.

Bush narrowly missed her second straight double-double, finishing with nine points and 12 rebounds. Carter came off the bench to lead the way with 12 points, as McKinnon added 11. Springfield was led by Alex Goslin, who had 11 points, and Rachel Vinton, who chipped in 10 off the bench.