Montclair, NJ- The Montclair State University women's basketball team looks to keep their hot streak going as they host Kean on Saturday.

GAME INFO
The contest will be played in the Panzer Athletic Center at 3:00 pm. Live coverage of the game can be found at montclairathletics.com


LAST TIME OUT
Montclair went on the road to win their five game in a row and their sixth NJAC game in a row when they stunned TCNJ, 62-61. It was a back-and-forth opening quarter with both teams exchanging buckets early. The game saw four lead changes and two tied scores up to an 11-8 lead for Montclair at the 4:04 timestamp. OLIVIA VERO was the sparkplug in the first quarter with seven points. The Lions, however, clawed back with a 9-2 run to end the first quarter and held a 17-13 lead heading into the second. TCNJ controlled the beginning portion of the second quarter with nine unanswered points in the first five minutes of the quarter to take a comfortable, 27-13 edge. The Red Hawks did not fold though with a three-pointer from ISABELLA ORLANDO igniting a 10-2 run that cut the lead to 29-23 with just under two minutes remaining in the half. BRIANNA MONTAJES found a layup late and TCNJ closed out the quarter with a layup and a near buzzer-beater three with just three seconds remaining to take a 34-25 lead into halftime. The Lions tried to put away the Red Hawks in the third quarter, but they continued to fight back and climb back from the deficit. TCNJ held the largest lead of the game in third with a 14-point advantage at the 3:28 mark. A jumper from Orlando, a three from ALEXIS STROLLO, and a layup from Montajes brought the game to within six with just 1:10 left in the quarter. The momentum of the game swung in Montclair's favor after a TCNJ layup with 57 seconds left was followed by an ALYSSA CRAIGWELL jumper. After Craigwell's jumper, The Red Hawk's press came bearing down and Vero generated two steals on their side of the court that led to creating her own layup and a kick out to SHANNON HUGHES for three and the TCNJ lead was by just one point heading into the final quarter, 51-50. Vero scored the first bucket of the quarter to give Montclair their first lead since the first quarter. She followed up with another lay-in and a three-pointer from Strollo pushed the Red Hawks out to a 57-51 edge. The College of New Jersey fought back with eight unanswered points to recapture the lead with 3:50 remaining in the game, but another Vero layup nodded the game up 59-59 heading into the final two minutes. After Craigwell was fouled and converted one of two free throws to take the lead, the Lions secured a go-ahead bucket with 35 seconds remaining. The ball was put in the hands of Craigwell with just a possession worth of time remaining in the game and she delivered with a driving layup to give Montclair a 62-61 lead with just 21 seconds remaining. TCNJ had one shot left and it was SOPHIE BENEVENTINE who denied the Lion's Grace Kowalski with a buzzer-beater, blocking the game-winner to complete Montclair's upset in Ewing.
 
 
TEAM LEADERS
MONTCLAIR STATE (12-3, 6-2 NJAC)
Points Per Game: ALYSSA CRAIGWELL, 15.7
Rebounds Per Game: OLIVIA VERO, 8.1
Field goal percentage: ALYSSA CRAIGWELL, .492
Three Point Percentage: ALYSSA CRAIGWELL, .333
Free throw Percentage: BRIANNA MONTAJES, .714
Assists: SOPHIE BENEVENTINE, 62
Steals: ALYSSA CRAIGWELL, 37
Blocks: Two Tied for 21
 


KEAN (7-8, 4-4 NJAC)
Points Per Game: Riley Aherns, 11.8
Rebounds Per Game: Maddison Vaughn, 8.9
Field goal percentage: Riley Aherns, .506
Three Point Percentage: Maya Edwards, .333
Free throw Percentage: Cara McCoy, .818
Assists: Brittany Graff, 53
Steals: Brittany Graff, 53
Blocks: Maddison Vaughn, 40


SCOUTING KEAN
The Cougars enter this matchup with a 7-8 overall record and a 4-4 NJAC record after defeating Rutgers-Newark, 76-58 this past Wednesday. In 2023-24, Kean compiled a 17-10 overall record with a 13-5 NJAC record to secure their spot in the NJAC Tournament. They won their quarterfinal matchup against Rowan, 78-66, but fell in the semifinals against eventual champion New Jersey City, 61-48. According to the 2024-25 NJAC Preseason Poll, the Cougars are slated for a fourth-place finish.

SERIES HISTORY
It will be the 97^th meeting between these two storied programs. While Montclair holds the series advantage at 57-39, Kean has won four straight games against the Red Hawks.
 
LAST MEETING
The last meeting between Montclair and Kean was on February 10, 2024 where Kean emerged victorious 92-60 for the season sweep.
 
 
 
UP NEXT
Montclair State University heads into the final stretch of the season when they reset their conference schedule and host Rowan for a 5:30 pm tip-off on Wednesday, January 22.