Montclair, NJ- The Montclair State Women's Basketball team (14-3, 8-2 NJAC) notched their eighth-straight New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) win and their sixth win in a row when they downed Rowan (11-6, 7-3 NJAC), 69-61 on Wednesday night.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Defense was stalwart in the first quarter with both teams only combining for 21 points. Rowan got on the board first with a layup but SOPHIE BENEVENTINE knocked down a jumper and a three to put Montclair up 5-2 at the 7:20 timestamp. The Profs got within one point several times but were unable to take the lead. After a 9-8 score at the 4:27 mark, ALEXIS STROLLO scored two layups down the stretch and the Montclair defense did not allow a bucket and took a 13-8 lead into the second quarter.
• The Red Hawks kicked off the second quarter with an 11-3 run, that included three deep balls with two coming from Strollo and one coming from SHANNON HUGHES for a 24-11 lead. After Montclair jumped out to a 31-16 lead, Rowan finally put together a run of their own of 7-0 to cut the deficit to 31-23 with just under two minutes remaining in the half. Down the stretch Hughes and BRIANNA MONTAJES each collected layups and Rowan knocked down a jumper with eight seconds remaining and the score stood at 35-25 entering the halftime intermission.
• The third quarter was a continuous back-and-forth affair with no side able to shake the other and gain a clear advantage. The Red Hawks did outscore the Profs, 24-20 in the quarter, and eventually took a 59-45 edge into the final quarter. ALYSSA CRAIGWELL came alive in the quarter with seven points in the period.
• After OLIVIA VERO kicked off the final frame with a layup, the Profs put together their best scoring effort of the game with a massive 15-3 run that lasted nearly seven minutes and they got to within four points at a 64-60 Red Hawks lead. Montclair held strong however and was able to distance themselves on a Beneventine layup and free throws from Strollo. They also only allowed one final point to be scored and eventually secured a 69-61 victory to split the season series.  

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
 

• Montclair has now won eight straight NJAC games in a row, their longest conference winning streak since the 2014-15 season when the Red Hawks rode a 10-game NJAC win streak all the way to a conference championship victory and their only NCAA Tournament Final Four appearance.
• Four Red Hawks scored in double-figures tonight, most notably Strollo, who led the team in scoring for the first time this season with a career-high 18 points on the night.
• Vero was just two rebounds shy of a double-double, scoring 10 points, and was a perfect 4-for-4 from the field while also securing eight rebounds.

 
FROM THE COURT

• So proud of our team tonight. Our defense was tremendous! We battled every minute and our guards really stepped up! ALEXIS STROLLO was the glue… She is playing unbelievable basketball." Head Coach Karin Harvey

NEXT UP
 

• Montclair State University will seek to make it nine NJAC wins in a row when they travel to faceoff with Rutgers-Newark on Saturday, January 25. Tip-off from the Golden Dome is scheduled for 4:00 pm.