Montclair, NJ – Junior guard NICKIE CARTER scored a career-high 34 points as Montclair State continued its winning ways with their eighth straight victory in an 81-39 triumph over Rutgers-Newark on Wednesday evening.
Senior TRISHA PETERSON added seven points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists for the Red Hawks (14-7, 12-4 NJAC). The win guaranteed MSU a Top 4 seed in the upcoming NJAC Tournament, in addition to moving Montclair into a tie for second-place with Rowan University with two games to play.
Montclair State hosts New Jersey City on Saturday, February 12 at 3:00 pm before closing out the regular season at Rowan in Glassboro, NJ, on February 16.
MSU trailed 12-11 with two minutes to play in the opening quarter before ripping off the last five points. Carter gave Montclair the lead on a layup, and Peterson drove the lane for another field goal. Carter's layup with 40 seconds helped the Red Hawks take a 17-12 advantage into the second period.
The new quarter picked up where the previous left as Montclair tallied the first eight points to finish off a 13-0 spurt spanning seven minutes over the two quarters. MEGAN DUFFY had the last points, a layup with 5:23 to go, putting MSU in front 25-12. Montclair State would add one more burst in the last four minutes, outscoring the Raiders, 14-2. Oliva Vero kicked it off with the first four points and a three by ANNIE WALSH, extending the lead to 35-16. Carter got a final three points on a buzzer-beating three-pointer that sent Montclair State into halftime with a 42-18 lead.
The Red Hawks would outscore Rutgers-Newark 26-13 in the third as Carter scored 16 points in the period. Montclair shot 8-of-15 from the field, including 3-of-6 from behind the arc. RYLEE MULLIGAN had four points in the quarter, with Walsh and KELLY SMITH adding three and two.
Carter also had seven rebounds and two steals. Walsh added nine points, with Vero posting eight in addition to five rebounds and five blocks. JULIA SUTTON scored seven points along with four rebounds and four assists. Smith pulled down eight rebounds, and Mulligan chipped in with six points and three rebounds.
Sutton, Peterson, Smith, Mulligan, and Walsh were each honored before the game on Senior Night, along with student assistant coach Dora Duguay.
