York, Pa. – Guards JULIA SUTTON and KENDALL HODGES combined for 29 points, but the Montclair State women's basketball team fell to Washington College 55-47 in their season-opener Saturday.
 
Both teams started the game cold, with junior NICKIE CARTER scoring the first basket of the game 5:09 into the game. The Shorewoman opened up a five-point advantage, but the Red Hawks finished the frame on a 6-0 run, with triples from RYLEE MULLIGAN and Hodges. In the second, a MEGAN DUFFY layup with 4:40 left gave MSU their largest lead at six and capped off a 7-0 spurt by the team. A three-pointer by Washington's Rachel Thiem closed out the first-half scoring, and Montclair entered the break with a two-point lead.
 
The Red Hawks' defense was active in the first half, forcing 16 turnovers as TRISHA PETERSON notched five steals in the first quarter alone.
 
After Hodges drained a three early in the third frame, Washington held Montclair without a point over the next five minutes and went on a 10-0 run to take the lead back. SANIYA MYERS stopped the run, but Washington tallied the quarter's final four points to grab an eight-point advantage entering the fourth.
 
The new quarter helped the Red Hawks as they notched the first six points to close within a pair. NICKIE CARTER hit a three before Sutton hit a layup and drew the foul before converting the free throw to push MSU back in front. Unfortunately, Washington College finished the game on a 13-3 run as Montclair was limited to one field goal over the final six minutes and change.
 
Duffy led Montclair with seven rebounds while Sutton, Peterson, and Myers all notched six. Peterson also tallied a team-high six steals in the setback. Andrea Prestianne led all scorers with 17 points while Crystal Jones notched a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds in the win.
 
Montclair will face Penn-State Abington in the Consolation Game of the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic tomorrow at 2 pm