Montclair, NJ – Junior KAYLA BUSH recorded her sixth double-double of the season as the Montclair State women's basketball team stormed past Rutgers University-Newark 65-39 in New Jersey Athletic Conference play Wednesday.

The Red Hawks (18-5, 13-3 NJAC) won their 19th consecutive matchup over the Scarlet Raiders (4-19, 2-14 NJAC) dating back to 2012.

The visitors opened the game on a 7-2 run over the first 4:39 before senior ALEX MCKINNON notched the next five tallies to pull the game even. The senior closed out the 9-0 run with a layup before junior RYLEE MULLIGAN hit a jumper in the paint to give MSU a 13-9 lead after one. Rutgers-Newark leveled the game at 13 and held the Red Hawks without a field goal over the first 5:13 of the second period. Montclair ended the frame with nine of the final 11 points, entering halftime with a seven-point lead.

McKinnon led all scorers with nine first-half points, as the Red Hawks only turned the ball over four times over the first 20 minutes.

The Red Hawks controlled the third quarter, and a McKinnon layup stretched the gap to double figures. Midway through the stanza, Bush kickstarted a 7-2 run with a layup, and the hosts were able to take a 38-26 advantage entering the fourth and final quarter.

A 10-2 Red Hawk spurt in the fourth extended the gap to 22 points, as junior TAYLOR BROWN knocked down a three-pointer at the 6:04 mark. Off a fastbreak, freshman NICKIE CARTER got on in the action, as she hit from behind the arc just 24 seconds later. Late in the game, fellow freshman SANIYA MYERS tallied six consecutive markers to give MSU their largest lead of the night at 27 points. Rutgers-Newark hit one final free throw to establish the 26-point final margin.

Bush tallied 10 points and 11 rebounds while adding four assists and four blocks, as McKinnon paced the Red Hawks with 16 points. Brown contributed 11 points and eight rebounds, with the Red Hawks receiving a combined 14 points from Mulligan and Myers off the bench. Hannah Ashby led the Scarlet Raiders with 13 points.

The Red Hawks resume play on Saturday, hosting Stockton University at 3 pm. Montclair earned a 52-43 triumph over the Ospreys back on January 18. The team will honor its two seniors CERYS MACLELLAND and McKinnon, along with Assistant Coach Christian Alfano in a Senior Day ceremony before the game.