Wayne, NJ – Junior guard JULIA SUTTON scored a game-high 18 points as Montclair State rebounded from its season-opening loss with a 58-51 victory over local rival William Paterson in the NJAC opener for both teams on Friday evening.

Sophomore forward SANIYA MYERS scored five of her seven second-half points in 49 seconds of the third quarter as the Red Hawks evened their record at 1-1 (1-0 NJAC) on the season while defeating the Pioneers (0-1, 0-1 NJAC) for the third straight time and 19th in the last 20 meetings.

Brianna Smith and Brianna Brooks each posted double-doubles for William Paterson, which erased an 11-point halftime deficit in the third quarter.

The two teams will complete their home-and-home set on Saturday, February 6 with a 2:00 pm tipoff at the Panzer Athletic Center.

Following a slow start by both teams, MSU scored the first eight points capped off by a fast-break layup by freshman KENDALL HODGES with 6:39 left in the first quarter. Four straight by Sutton, who had 11 in the first 20 minutes, extended the lead to 14-4 two minutes later with the Red Hawks taking a 20-9 advantage after NICKIE CARTER drove in for a layup with a minute to go. Justina Cabezas answered for WPU as the first quarter ended with MSU holding a nine-point advantage.

A three-point play by Carter to open the second pushed the lead back to double-digits before a three-by TAYLOR BROWN with 7:39 left made the score 26-13. Sutton's three-point with just over two minutes remaining gave Montclair its largest lead of the half, 31-17. The Pioneers closed out the period with the final three points as MSU led 31-20 at the break.

The first five minutes of the third quarter belonged to William Paterson as the hosts outscored Montclair State 17-5 to take a two-point lead. Smith began the comeback with a layup in the first 20 seconds and later tied the game at 32-32 making two from the free-throw line with 6:50 left. Hodges put MSU back on top with the next four points, however a Smith three-pointer and Brooks foul shot knotted the game at 36-36 and the Pioneers grabbed the lead on the next possession as Smith finished off a fastbreak. 

Myers regained the lead for the Red Hawks scoring the next five points starting with a three-point play with 3:36 left and putback 49 seconds later making the score 41-38. Myers would score again with 1:50 left and a three-pointer from Sutton with 39 ticks sent Montclair State into the final quarter with a 47-40 advantage.

Carter's basket to begin the final quarter made it a nine-point lead with William Paterson getting as close as five points twice, the last with 5:39 remaining on a Brooks' basket that made the score 51-46. The Red Hawks countered with a KAYLA BUSH layup before Sutton's three widening the lead to 10 points with just under four minutes to play.

Brown and Hodges each finished with nine points while Bush collected six along with a team-best eight boards. Carter tallied seven points and seven rebounds. Brown pulled down six caroms in addition to blocking four shots.