Montclair, NJ – The Montclair State University women's basketball team outlasted William Paterson University 82-77 in double overtime on Wednesday night.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Red Hawks (5-4, 3-1 NJAC) took a five-point lead midway through first on two free throws from MADELYN MCCREA. The Pioneers responded with seven consecutive markers and the two sides entered the second tied at 17.
• A triple from ISABELLA ORLANDO extended the Montclair margin to 28-23, capping off a 6-0 spurt. The Red Hawks took a 35-33 advantage into halftime and knocked five three-pointers over the first 20 minutes.
• The Pioneers took their largest lead of the night thus far on a jumper with 3:50 remaining in the third, pushing the gap to 47-41. The Red Hawks whittled the margin down to three on a layup and free throw from OLIVIA VERO, but the Pioneers netted a bucket at the buzzer to go up five after three.
• Vero tallied the first five points of the fourth quarter as Montclair crept in front by a point. The junior leveled the contest at 65 with a jumper with 2:31 left. After the Pioneers regained a two-point lead, TERESA WOLAK sent the game to overtime with a layup off a feed from MEGAN DUFFY.
• Wolak and Vero each converted layups in the opening overtime and Wolak seemingly won the game for Montclair, hitting a layup with .6 left. The Red Hawks were called for a foul on the inbound, and the Pioneers hit a pair from the charity stripe to extend the game.
• Duffy opened the second OT with a three-pointer and a free throw from KENDALL HODGES made it 77-73. The Pioneers rallied back to tie it, but Wolak knocked down a jumper in the paint with 1:55 left to snap the deadlock.
• The Pioneers could not answer before Wolak snared an offensive rebound, and Vero calmly sank two to make it a two-possession game with 20 ticks left. The Red Hawks forced a turnover on the William Paterson and Wolak hit one-of-two from the line to ice it.

 INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Vero tallied her second career double-double, scoring a career-high 23 points while pulling down 13 boards. The junior shot 9-of-10 from the floor while adding five from the free throw line. She had 10 of her 23 in the fourth quarter.
• Wolak had seven of her 14 points in the two overtime.
• Duffy chipped in 19 points and six rebounds while hitting four three-pointers.

FROM THE COURT
"Tonight was a great team win! Proud of efforts from multiple members of the team and the toughness it took to win this game. Specifically, proud of our post players, who took advantage tonight, and really carried us through to a win." - Associate Head Coach Katie Sire.

UP NEXT
The Red Hawks visit TCNJ on Saturday, with tip-off in Ewing, NJ, scheduled for 1 pm.