Montclair, NJ – Senior guard JULIA SUTTON scored 22 points, including six three-point field goals as Montclair State shut down NJAC co-leader Kean University for a 54-39 victory at the Panzer Athletic Center on Wednesday evening.

Sophomore guard KENDALL HODGES added 11 points, four rebounds, and three assists as the Red Hawks (8-7, 6-4 NJAC) allowed their second-lowest point total of the season in winning their second straight contest. Montclair also avenged a 69-61 loss against the Cougars back on November 23 in Union.

Shannon McCoy finished with 11 points and seven rebounds for Kean (9-6, 8-2 NJAC), which had their five-game winning streak snapped.

Both teams struggled out of the gate as the two combined for just 2-of-26 shooting, with neither side putting points on the board until the halfway mark of the opening period. Sutton drained a three with 4:48 left and added a free throw two minutes later for a 4-0 advantage. Sarah Olivero answered with a three-pointer with two foul shots by Brittany Graff, helping the Cougars take a 5-4 lead heading into the second.

The Red Hawks regained the lead with six straight points to open the second. Nicker Carter converted a three-point play, and two consecutive layups by RYLEE MULLIGAN made the score 11-5. Oliva Vero widened the gap to 18-8 with four minutes to go on a layup. However, two free throws by Graff inside the final minute pulled the Cougars within 18-14. Carter drove in for a layup with 34 seconds remaining as Montclair went into halftime with a six-point lead.

The teams would match each other in the third quarter putting the score at 32-26 heading into the final quarter. MSU used 14-6 spurt in the first three minutes, extending its lead to 46-32 with 6:23 remaining. MEGAN DUFFY got it started with a layup in the first minute, and TRISHA PETERSON capped it with her own field goal. Sutton scored six points in the span, making 5-of-6 from the field. Carter's layup with 3:21 gave Montclair State its largest lead of the game at 52-35.

Carter added seven points and eight rebounds while Peterson grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds in addition to two assists, two blocks, and three steals. MSU limited Kean to just 20 percent (11-of-56) shooting overall, 1-of-22 from behind the arc.

On Saturday, January 22, Montclair State is at home against The College of New Jersey. The tip-off of the NJAC contest is 3:00 pm.