Bristol, RI- Montclair State University women's basketball senior OLIVIA VERO led the way with a double-double of 24 points and 14 rebounds to help the Red Hawks secure a 72-57 win in their season opener on Saturday.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Hawks started out with a 9-2 lead early in the first quarter before the Red Hawks battled back with a big run of 16-3 to flip the script and take a 18-12 lead. That run was highlighted by ALYSSA CRAIGWELL who scored six points and collected a steal while DAJA WENTZ scored four points. Roger Williams made two free throws at the end of the period and to put the score at 18-14 going into the next quarter.
• Roger Williams hit a jumper to start the second quarter but was answered by jumpers from Vero and SOPHIE BENEVENTINE. The Hawks capitalized on an "And one" opportunity to cut the lead to 22-19, but five unanswered points on a layup from Vero, a pair of made free throws from Wentz and a made free throw ALEXIS STROLLO extended the lead to 27-19 for Montclair. Eight unanswered points from Roger Williams tied the contest at 27-27, but made layups from Wentz and Vero helped prevent the Red Hawks from being down on the scoreboard. Down the final stretch of the Vero scored again and Strollo made both her attempted free throw attempts, but made free throws, a jumper and a three-point shot with 10 seconds left in the half, helped Roger Williams tie the contest and send the game into the half with a 33-33 score.
• Defense was strong from both teams at the beginning of the third quarter with no team able to find a bucket until two minutes in when Vero continued her paint dominance with a layup. Another layup from Vero and a three-pointer from BRIANNA MONTAJES helped the Red Hawks jump out to a 42-37 lead in the third. Roger Williams eventually cut the lead to within one possession with a score of 45-42, but a free throw from Craigwell, a layup from Wentz and a bucket from Vero kept the Hawks at bay with a 50-42 advantage. A clutch three with just one second on the clock in the quarter by Wentz gave the Red Hawks a 53-46 lead going into the final quarter.
• Montclair started hot in the fourth quarter with a layups from Montajes and Beneventine and a three-point ball from SHANNON HUGHES that gave the Red Hawks a double-digit lead of 60-46. Roger Williams tried to build a big run with six unanswered points, but another layup from Vero halted the run and kept the double-digit lead at 62-52. At just under five minutes left in regulation, Roger Williams hit a layup that was answered with eight unanswered from Montclair with a Craigwell notching five points on an "and one" and a layup and a three pointer from Strollo. The lead proved to be insurmountable at that point for Roger Williams and Montclair came home with the win of 72-57.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Vero's double-double was the third of her career and both her 23 points and 14 rebounds both tied career-highs. She also led the team in blocks with four
• The Red Hawks also saw double-digit scoring from newcomers Wentz and Craigwell, who scored 13 and 12, respectively.
• Beneventine had a good day as a distributor, collecting seven assists on the day

 
FROM THE COURT
 

• "The Red Hawks are back with an all-in team effort in their first victory of the 2024-25 season." Head Coach Karin Harvey

 
NEXT UP

•  Montclair State University hosts their home opener on Wednesday, November 13 when they welcome Old Westbury for a 6:00pm tip off