Montclair, NJ – The Montclair State University women's basketball team fell to SUNY New Paltz 57-49 on Monday afternoon at the Panzer Athletic Center.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Red Hawks (7-4) took an early one-point advantage two minutes in on a layup by ALEXIS STROLLO, and would later expand the margin to 6-3 on a steal and fastbreak layup from ALYSSA CRAIGWELL at the 6:19 mark. After the Hawks briefly regained the lead with four minutes remaining, Montclair regained a 10-7 edge on buckets from BELLA BRUCE and Craigwell. A pair of free throws from both MALVINA SULLIVAN and MADISON MARCOTTE increased the advantage to six, as the Red Hawks would go up by a period-high eight on another basket from Bruce with 19 seconds left. New Paltz hit two free throws shortly after to make the gap six after 10 minutes.
• Craigwell notched a layup in the opening minutes of the second stanza, but the visitors countered with back-to-back three point makes to get within one possession with 6:37 remaining in the half. After New Paltz climbed within one 90 seconds later, Bruce converted an and-one opportunity to make the score 25-21 with four minutes on the clock. Another long distance make brought the Hawks within one again, as Montclair answered with the next six points over the ensuing minute to build a seven-point edge. Four free throws over the remaining stretch of the half for New Paltz cut the game to 31-28 at the break.
• Bruce notched a layup on Montclair's first possession of the second half before the visitors recorded the game's next eight points over the next two and a half minutes to gain a three-point edge. The Red Hawks responded with a layup from Katie Ditcher on the next possession, but another 6-0 stretch vaulted New Paltz ahead 42-35 with 3:04 on the clock in the period. A few possessions later, SAMANTHA PHILIPP connected on a jumper to end the run, and Strollo drove inside for a layup as time expired in the frame to make it a one-possession contest entering the final quarter.
• With the Hawks up by three 90 seconds into the fourth, Philipp notched a shot from beyond the arc on the following possession, with neither team registering a bucket until the 4:13 mark when Bruce converted a layup to give Montclair the lead. New Paltz answered with consecutive layups to regain a three-point lead and would later extend the advantage to eight with 2:18 remaining. Craigwell halted the run with a bucket before the visitors countered with one of their own. Montclair received their final marker of the game from Craigwell the next trip up the court, as New Paltz hit two free throws in the waning moments of the game to claim the road victory.

INSIDE THE RESULTS

• Craigwell led the way for Montclair with 18 points and five boards, continuing her season-opening streak of 11 consecutive games with double-digit scoring.
• Bruce was the other Red Hawks in double figures, amassing 13 points on the day. Strollo recorded seven points and a team-high seven rebounds, matching her season-high set against Rowan on November 25.
• Defensively, Montclair forced 25 turnovers for the third time this season.

FROM THE COURT

"Unfortunately, it wasn't our best effort today and when you play teams of that caliber, you have to bring your best effort. We look forward to getting back on the court tomorrow." - Head Coach Karin Harvey

UP NEXT

The Red Hawks will close out the Mike Scala Memorial Classic against Neumann on Tuesday, December 30. Tip-off from the Panzer Athletic Center is scheduled for 2:00 PM.