Montclair, NJ – The Montclair State women's basketball team fell to TCNJ on Saturday afternoon at the Panzer Athletic Center.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Red Hawks (8-12, 5-8 NJAC) took an early 7-5 lead on a three-point shot from BRIANNA MONTAJES. TCNJ responded with eight-straight points to open a two-possession advantage with 4:57 remaining in the first quarter.
• OLIVIA VERO converted a layup to cut the margin to two a minute later, but the visitors maintained their advantage throughout the remainder of the quarter, reaching as high as seven points.
• Vero hit another layup early in the second frame to cut the margin to three points, but TCNJ used a steady offensive quarter to boost the advantage to double-digits with 3:09 remaining. They held it above 10 for the rest of the half, as the two sides went into the break with the score 36-23.
• Montclair scored five of the first eight points in the third quarter, a run capped off by a layup from TERESA WOLAK to make the deficit 10. Later in the stanza, TCNJ used back-to-back three-point shots to open a 16-point lead at 47-31 and would reach the 30-minute mark up by 12.
• Wolak connected on a layup with 6:31 on the clock in the fourth quarter to cut the TCNJ advantage to single digits, and the Red Hawks later pushed it down to eight with 4:35 remaining. 
• ALEXIS STROLLO tallied two free throws with under two minutes remaining to make the score 61-53, but the Lions scored the final five points of the contest.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Vero finished with 15 points to lead the Red Hawks. Wolak tallied 12 points and 10 rebounds for her first double-double in her Montclair career.
• SHANNON HUGHES was the third and final Red Hawk in double-figures with 11 points. 
• Montclair held a 34-18 advantage with points in the paint. 

FROM THE COURT
"The team fought hard today but unfortunately too many mistakes caught up to us. I'm proud of our effort today and can't wait to carry that same energy with us into the coming weeks." - Head Coach Karin Harvey. 

UP NEXT

The Red Hawks will take on William Paterson on Wednesday, January 31. Tip-off from Wayne, NJ is slated for 6:00 pm.