Glassboro, NJ – The second-seeded Montclair State women's basketball was knocked off by top-seeded Rowan University 64-54 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference Championship game Friday evening.

With the win, Rowan (24-3) claimed the NJAC automatic bid to the next week's NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Tournament. The Red Hawks (21-6) must wait to the NCAA Division III Selection Show to see if they will be awarded an at-large bid. The selection show will air on ncaa.com at 2:30 pm Monday afternoon on ncaa.com.

After surrendering a three to open the game, the Red Hawks scored nine of the next 11 points to take a 9-5 lead. Senior CERYS MACLELLAND notched four points and two assists during the spurt. The hosts Profs responded, and a triple by Savannah Holt pushed Rowan back in front 17-16, but freshman NICKIE CARTER hit a layup to give MSU the edge back two possessions later. Rowan would connect on a pair of free-throws with six seconds left in the frame to take a 19-18 lead after one.

The Red Hawks opened the second quarter with three-pointers on consecutive trips down the floor by junior TAYLOR BROWN to grab a 25-20 advantage. The Red Hawks defense held Rowan without a field goal over the first 5:30 of the second quarter, and a three by senior ALEX MCKINNON extended the gap to nine at 32-23. The lead swelled to double digits thanks to two MacLelland free-throws, but Rowan rebounded with a 6-0 rally before junior KIM CALLOWAY ended the run with a three-pointer from the corner. Montclair took a 38-33 lead into the halftime break after Rowan converted two late free-throws.

McKinnon led the Red Hawks with 10 first-half points, as the team shot 12-of-26 (46.2%) from the floor in the opening half.

Montclair wasted no time in opening second-half scoring, as Brown hit her third three-pointer of the game just 33 ticks into the third quarter. Carter notched four straight markers, including a pair from the charity stripe, midway through the stanza to extend the Red Hawks lead to 12 at 48-36. The Red Hawks defense continued to stymie the Profs offense, not allowing a field goal over the first 7:30 of the period.

Rowan was equally as stingy, holding Montclair off the scoreboard for nearly four minutes. Nicole Mallard hit three consecutive layups as Rowan closed out the quarter with the final 12 points sending the two sides in the fourth tied at 48.

The Profs took their first advantage of the second half with an early jumper by Kennedy Brown, but Carter evened the game back at 51 with a three from straight on.

Mallard's layup with 5:33 to go in the fourth pushed the Profs lead to four. Brown answered back with four triple of the night to trim the deficit back down to one. Rowan extended the lead to eight thanks to a pair of Alexis Krilley free-throws and, on the ensuing possession, forced a Red Hawk turnover. Montclair would be unable to score anymore, as the Profs finished the game with four successful free-throws.

Carter led the Red Hawks with 17 points, while MacLelland finished the game with nine points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists. Brown recorded 13 points, while McKinnon added 10. Mallard led Rowan with 22 points in the win.