Newark, NJ – The Montclair State University women's basketball team earned its seventh-straight victory on Saturday afternoon, as it surged past Rutgers-Newark 68-31.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Red Hawks (15-3, 9-2 NJAC) raced out to a 12-2 advantage over the opening five minutes, led by six points from OLIVIA VERO and four from ALYSSA CRAIGWELL. Montclair later expanded the margin to 15, a run highlighted by a fastbreak layup from SHANNON HUGHES and another bucket from Craigwell. The Scarlet Raiders trimmed the deficit slightly to make the score 21-7 in favor of the visitors at the end of the opening stanza.
• Montclair continued to hold the advantage through the early stages of the second, as they built the lead up to 18 at the 6:07 mark on a layup in the paint from Vero. Right after the quarter's halfway mark, the Red Hawks rattled off 10-straight points, including five in a row from AMANDA CASTRO. Back-to-back makes from BRIANNA MONTAJES and ALEXIS STROLLO pushed the margin to 28 at the half for the Red Hawks.
• The visitors kicked off the second half with the first 11 points, a run finished by a tip-in from Montajes at the 5:52 mark to make the score 55-16. The Montclair defense held Rutgers-Newark to seven points the entire quarter, as Strollo connected on a three-point shot in the waning moments of the frame to put the Red Hawks up 35 going into the final quarter.
• Rutgers-Newark opened the fourth with the opening two baskets, but Montclair pushed the lead back up to 38 a few minutes later on a three-pointer from Hughes and a layup from Craigwell. Defenses tightened up for both sides, as they held each other scoreless for the next four minutes. Montclair closed out the contest for the road triumph and their New Jersey Athletic Conference leading ninth victory in league play.

INSIDE THE RESULTS

• Strollo led the way for the Red Hawks with a game-high 17 points, adding six boards and four assists. She has started each of Montclair's last seven games, recording double-digit point performances in every contest. 
• Vero added 12 points and six rebounds, marking her fourth consecutive double-digit game and 11th of the campaign. Craigwell was the final Red Hawk in double-figures, as she finished with 11 points.
• Montclair held a 56-37 advantage in rebounds and tallied 20 assists on the day.
• The victory for Montclair marked the 15th of the season, their most since the 2019-20 campaign. Their nine conference wins are the most since 2021-22, and their 7-2 road mark is the best since that same season.
• Montclair sits in a three-way tie for first place in the NJAC at 9-2 with TCNJ and their next opponent, William Paterson, with seven games to go. The Red Hawks have won nine-straight games in conference play.

FROM THE COURT

"Nice team win tonight. Thought we did a good job of executing our offense and sharing the basketball. Anytime we have 20 assists and out rebound our opponent by double digits, it's a good day!" - Head Coach Karin Harvey

UP NEXT

The Red Hawks will return home to host William Paterson on Wednesday, January 29. Tip-off from the Panzer Athletic Center is scheduled for 5:30 PM.