Montclair, NJ – The Montclair State women's basketball team grabbed a 13-point halftime lead en route to a 78-66 victory over FDU-Florham Wednesday evening.

The Red Hawks (2-2) improved to 5-2 all-time against the Devils (1-3) in the first meeting between the schools since March 15, 2014.

A back-and-forth opening saw the Red Hawks open up a six-point lead on FDU with 3:52 left in the frame. Senior ALEX MCKINNON and freshman NICOLE CARTER scored consecutive possessions to help Montclair extend that lead. MSU was able to end the frame with four of the final six points, with Carter converting a pair of free throws from the free-throw line with three ticks remaining.

A Cayla Staggers jumper helped the visiting Devils close to within one point at 19-18, but the Red Hawks answered back with nine straight of their own, capped off with a McKinnon jumper. The senior had six of Montclair's nine tallies during the stretch. A layup from junior KAYLA BUSH gave MSU their largest lead of the opening half at 15, and the two sides entered the break with Montclair leading 39-26.

McKinnon led MSU with 16 first-half points, with Bush snaring 10 rebounds. The team shot 16-of-40 (40%) from the field in the first 20 minutes of action.

After an FDU triple trimmed the deficit to 14 with 3:20 left in the third stanza, Montclair closed out the period with a 7-2 spurt, finished off with a pair of free-throws from sophomore RYLEE MULLIGAN. Rookie SANIYA MYERS extended the lead to a game-high 23 with 4:06 left in the fourth, but the Devils were able to cut into the lead with 13-4 run to close out the game.

McKinnon poured in a game-high 22 points, while Bush notched her second double-double of the season. The junior recorded 11 points and 15 rebounds while five assists and five blocks. Junior CERYS MACLELLAND contributed six points, seven assists, and eight rebounds with sophomore TRISHA PETERSON adding eight points off the bench. FDU was led by 16 points from Staggers and 14 from Angela Downey.

Montclair State returns to action next Tuesday when they open New Jersey Athletic Conference play against William Paterson University. Tip-off in Wayne, NJ, is scheduled for 6 p.m.