Montclair, NJ – The Montclair State Women's Basketball team (22-4) took care of business at the Panzer Athletic Center, defeating William Paterson (19-8) by a score of 67-55 on Wednesday night to advance to the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championship on Saturday.

How It Happened

• Scoring was slow in the early minutes of the first quarter, with William Paterson holding a slight 8-6 lead at the 4:42 mark. However, Montclair responded with a 10-2 run to close out the quarter, taking a 16-10 lead. OLIVIA VERO led the charge, scoring seven of the points in that stretch.
• The Red Hawks carried that momentum into the second quarter, as ALYSSA CRAIGWELL added a layup and a three-pointer, followed by a BRIANNA MONTAJES layup that extended Montclair's lead to double digits at 23-10 with 6:19 remaining in the half. After a pair of WPU jumpers cut the deficit back to single digits, Montclair answered with six unanswered points to regain control at 29-14. The Pioneers outscored the Red Hawks 7-4 for the remainder of the quarter, but Montclair still held a 33-21 advantage heading into halftime.
• Montclair continued its strong play in the third quarter, scoring six of the first eight points to push their lead to 39-23. William Paterson battled back with an 11-2 run midway through the quarter, trimming Montclair's lead to six. However, Craigwell's free throw in the final seconds of the period helped the Red Hawks maintain a 47-40 lead heading into the fourth.
• Both teams struggled to score in the opening minutes of the final quarter until Vero sank back-to-back layups, restoring Montclair's double-digit lead at 51-40. The Pioneers attempted a late comeback, cutting the deficit to six with just under three minutes remaining, but Craigwell's and-one conversion halted their momentum. Montclair closed out the game with a strong finish, securing a 67-55 victory.

Inside the Numbers

• Craigwell and Vero both recorded double-doubles for the third time this season. Craigwell led the team with 27 points and 10 rebounds, while Vero contributed 17 points and a team-high 14 rebounds. Craigwell also tallied three steals and two blocks.
• Montclair dominated the paint, scoring 48 of their 67 points inside while limiting William Paterson to just 28 points in the lane.
• The Red Hawks advanced to the NJAC Finals for the first time since the 2017-18 season, when they defeated TCNJ to claim the championship.

From the Court

• "I am so proud of this team. They played with so much grit and toughness and refused to lose. I couldn't be prouder of them and their efforts today. Can't wait for the championship game." – Head Coach Karin Harvey

Next Up

• Montclair State will travel to Ewing, NJ, on Saturday, March 1, to face top-seeded TCNJ in the NJAC Championship. Tip-off is set for 4:00 p.m.