Newark, NJ – The Montclair State women's basketball team allowed a season low for points and managed enough on the offensive end as the Red Hawks extended their win streak to three with a 46-37 victory over Rutgers-Newark at the Golden Dome on Wednesday evening.

Senior DOMONIQUE WIRSING highlighted the superb defensive effort with seven points, 11 rebounds and seven blocks as the Red Hawks improved to 15-8 overall, 11-5 in NJAC play. Montclair remained one game behind Rowan for second place in the conference standings with two league contests left to play. MSU also completed a sweep of the Scarlet Raiders (12-11, 10-6 NJAC) adding tonight's win to its 56-52 triumph at home back on December 12.

Faith Ashby led Rutgers-Newark with 14 points and 11 rebounds while Dorian Capurso added eight points and a game-high 12 caroms.

Montclair State led the entire first quarter minus a few early deadlocks, however Ashby connected on a jumper in the paint with 52 seconds left giving the hosts an 11-10 lead after one quarter. Ashby's bucket to being the second made it a three-point game with Capurso making the same margin, 15-12 after her jumper with 7:05 to play.

MSU went on the defensive limiting Rutgers-Newark just three points for the remainder of the period. Meanwhile the Red Hawks scored seven straight starting with a TAYLOR BROWN three tying the contest at 15-15. She would put MSU in front with 2:41 to go on a layup before two foul shots by TRISHA PETERSON made the score 19-15 with 1:21 left. Ashby finally got the Raiders back into the scoring column with 38 seconds hitting from behind the arc but KAYLA BUSH put back a miss with 11 ticks sending the Red Hawks into the break in front, 21-18.

Capurso pulled the Scarlet Raiders within 25-23 late in the third quarter finishing off a break. Montclair's KIM CALLOWAY countered burying a three-pointer a minute later and then added a layup with 3:11 to play as MSU led 30-23. Hannah Ashby trimmed the deficit to three with 47 seconds however Peterson converted a three-point play 27 seconds later for a 33-27 advantage heading into the final quarter.

Back-to-back field goals from JULIA SUTTON and CERYS MACLELLAND widened MSU's lead to 37-29 early in the fourth quarter. Faith Ashby hit a jumper with 5:25 to go getting the Raiders within 39-36. Wirsing answered at the other end with a layup and then delivered a crushing blow to Rutgers-Newark drilling a three-pointer for a 44-37 lead with 1:32 remaining.

Calloway (seven rebounds) led all MSU scorers with nine points. Brown and Peterson each had seven with MacLelland pulling down nine along with four points. Sutton had six off the bench as MSU held Rutgers-Newark to just 23 percent shooting (16-of-73), including 3-of-19 from behind the arc.  

Montclair State returns to action on Saturday, February 9 when it travels to Galloway, NJ to face Stockton University at 1:00 pm.