Galloway, NJ – The Montclair State women's basketball team outscored Stockton University 38-26 in the first and fourth quarters en route to a 52-43 victory in New Jersey Athletic Conference play Saturday.

Freshman NICKIE CARTER tallied a team-best 17 points for the Red Hawks (12-4, 7-2 NJAC), who earned their third consecutive win over the Ospreys (7-9, 2-7 NJAC).  Montclair also ran its overall winning streak to seven straight wins.

Neither side was able to put home a basket over the first 2:34 before junior TAYLOR BROWN ignited a 10-3 run. Carter and senior ALEX MCKINNON each hit three-pointers during the opening spurt. The Ospreys rebounded from their slow start and were able to cut the deficit down to one at 17-15 on a layup by Armanee Debarry. McKinnon pushed the Red Hawk lead back to five as she hit a three in the waning seconds of the opening quarter.

The two sides combined for just nine field goals over the second and third quarters, as the Red Hawks held a slim 34-32 lead entering the fourth and final frame.

Stockton had two chances to pull level at the beginning of the fourth, but a McKinnon rejection sprung classmate CERYS MACLELLAND on a fast-break. MacLelland would hit the jumper in the paint to double the Montclair lead at four. Stockton would record the next three points before Montclair embarked on a 6-0 run to take over.

The Red Hawks went to the charity stripe often in the fourth stanza, shooting 12-of-16 from the line. 10 of those attempts came with 1:54 on the clock or less and helped the Red Hawks seal the win.

McKinnon added 11 points and six rebounds, with MacLelland adding nine points and seven boards. Junior KAYLA BUSH hauled in a team-high 13 rebounds, as Montclair held a 43-36 edge on the glass. Kiley Gelston came off the bench for Stockton to score a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds.

The Red Hawks return home on Wednesday, hosting William Paterson University at 6 p.m. Montclair won the earlier matchup this season 60-55, with Bush notching a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds.