Montclair, NJ- The Montclair State Women's Basketball team (16-3, 8-2 NJAC) extended their conference double-digits when they picked up their 10^th conference win in a row after besting William Paterson (13-6, 9-3 NJAC), 68-54 on Wednesday night in the Panzer Athletic Center. The Red Hawks now went full circle with the conference, defeating every team in the NJAC this season.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The opening frame started with Montclair jumping out to a slight 4-2 advantage on layups from ALYSSA CRAIGWELL and OLIVIA VERO before the Pioneers scored seven unanswered points to take a 9-4 lead midway through the first quarter. The Red Hawks responded with seven straight points of their own to recapture the lead, 11-9 at the 2:32 mark. William Paterson capitalized on a shooting foul with two made free throws to tie the contest but Vero found another layup in the final minute and a half to eventually give Montclair a 13-11 lead heading into the second.
• William Paterson got off to a fast start to the quarter with a 7-0 run to retake the lead, but it was once again Montclair with a strong response when they generated an 11-2 run to retake the momentum, 24-20 with 2:36 left in the half. The Pioneers cut the lead to two on a successful layup but Vero pushed the lead to five with a layup and a made free throw to give the Red Hawks a 27-22 advantage heading into the halftime intermission.
• Both teams battled back and forth for the first half of the third quarter with no team able to generate a true run to a Montclair lead of 40-33 with 4:40 left. It was an ISABELLA ORLANDO three about a minute later that pushed the lead to double-digits and sparked a 10-0 run that led to a 50-33 edge. The Pioneers saw five unanswered points but SHANNON HUGHES scored the last two points of the quarter on a tip-in layup for a 52-38 lead heading into the final quarter.
• The Red Hawks only allowed the Pioneers to get to within single digits once the entire fourth quarter. Both teams broke even in the quarter at 16-16 and the Red Hawks remained red hot with their eighth-straight victory and 10^th straight conference win.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
 

• The Red Hawks have yet to lose a game in 2025, ending January with a perfect 8-0 record which is a feat they accomplished last in the 2019-2020 season.
• Vero was the leading scorer for the Red Hawks tonight with her 12^th double-digit scoring effort of the season and fifth straight when she tallied 17 points on the night to go along with eight rebounds and three blocks.
• Beneventine was just three points shy of a triple-double tonight when she notched seven points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists in her tremendous effort.
• The depth of the Montclair bench came through tonight, seeing 22 points to just William Paterson's five.

 
FROM THE COURT

• Hard fought game. William Paterson is gritty, physical, and relentless. Thought we matched their intensity. Proud of our effort tonight and excited for our players. They definitely earned it." Head Coach Karin Harvey

NEXT UP
 

• Montclair State University will remain home when they host Rutgers-Camden for a 3:00 pm tip-off on Saturday, February 1.