Glassboro, NJ – Nicole Mallard hit a layup with no time left in the fourth quarter lead Rowan University to a 67-65 victory the Montclair State women's basketball team in New Jersey Athletic Conference action Saturday.
The Red Hawks (17-5, 12-3 NJAC) and the Profs (19-3, 13-2 NJAC) split the two meetings this season. Montclair came away with a 76-50 win inside the Panzer Athletic Center back on January 11. The loss snaps the Red Hawks 12 game winning streak overall, and 11 game streak over the Profs. It was the Profs first win over MSU since a 68-64 win back on January 6, 2016.
The first quarter went back and forth before consecutive layups by
NICKIE CARTER and
TAYLOR BROWN gave MSU a 13-8 advantage. The Profs answered back with 10-3 run to close out the frame and took an 18-16 lead into the second quarter.
The Red Hawks took a three-point lead 2:44 into the second as junior
KAYLA BUSH hit a layup, drew the foul, and knocked down the free-throw to make the score 23-20. Rowan would cut the lead back down to two at the 2:40 mark on a free throw. After an
ALEX MCKINNON layup with 12 ticks left, Eliana Santana hit a triple with three seconds left in the half to make the game 39-37 in favor of the entering halftime.
Montclair shot 48.5% from the field (16-of-33) in the first half but turned the ball over 10 times as Rowan was limited to just three turnovers. Carter led all scorers with 12 first-half tallies.
A Carter layup 1:14 into the third gave MSU a slight edge, yet a triple from Kennedy Brown leveled the score back at 44. The Profs gained their first lead since early in the second quarter on a Grace Marshall triple. Still, the Red Hawks battled back with five straight markers, capped off with a
RYLEE MULLIGAN layup to once again jump in front.
Entering the fourth and final period with a three-point lead, junior
TAYLOR BROWN connected off a Mulligan feed to give MSU their largest edge of the day at six points. After the trading baskets, Rowan would hold Montclair off the board for the next 4:32, scoring nine straight points to take 65-62 lead. Off a timeout, Mulligan found Carter straight on for the game-tying three with five seconds to go. After advancing the ball on a timeout, Santana spotted a cutting Mallard, who slipped behind the Red Hawk defense for the game-winning bucket as time expired.
Bush collected her fifth double-double of the year, posting 15 points and 10 rebounds. Carter led the team with 20 points, with Brown notching 11 points before fouling out. Rowan had four players in double-figures, led by 17 points from Santana. Ayanna Johnson had 23 rebounds, with Marshall adding 16 points.
The Red Hawks return to the friendly confines of the Panzer Athletic Center on Wednesday, hosting Rutgers Newark at 6 pm. Montclair downed the Scarlet Raiders 71-55 in their previous matchup and have won 18 consecutive matchups against Rutgers Newark.
