Montclair, NJ- The Montclair State University women's basketball team looks to bounce back as they face off with Kean on Saturday afternoon.
 
GAME INFO
Tip-off from the Hardwood Arena in Union, NJ, is slated for 3:00 p.m. Live coverage of the game can be found at monclairstateathletics.com.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Montclair was upended in its NJAC Championship rematch against TCNJ on Wednesday, 84-51. Montclair raced out to a 7-2 lead in the first three minutes of the contest, with five points coming from ALYSSA CRAIGWELL. Facing a 9-5 deficit with 4:26 remaining in the opening quarter, TCNJ flipped the switch and held Montclair scoreless down the stretch, and finished the first with a 9-0 run that pushed them out to a 14-9 lead. TCNJ continued the run with six unanswered points before Craigwell halted the run with a layup at the 7:30 timestamp. The Lions were effective from three, hitting from three on their next four attempts and creating a 12-2 run that put them up 33-13. The two teams battled back-and-forth the rest of the quarter, and a three-pointer from the corner by CELINA BUSSANICH at the horn wrapped up the quarter with a TCNJ advantage of 40-24. The Lions kept the foot on the gas coming out of the break, opening up the third with a 16-2 run in just over the first half of the third quarter that extended their lead out to 56-26. ALEXIS STROLLO hit a three-pointer and BELLA BRUCE found a bucket in the final four seconds of the quarter for Montclair, but they trailed 64-32 heading into the final quarter. Bruce kicked off the final frame with a three-pointer and scored seven points in a 9-0 run for Montclair during the first three minutes of the fourth quarter. After a deep ball from Samantha Phillipp, TCNJ caught fire again with a 16-4 run up until the final two minutes of the game. The two programs traded blows the rest of the way, and TCNJ came away with an 84-51 triumph
 
TEAM LEADERS
MONTCLAIR STATE (10-5, 6-2 NJAC)
Points Per Game: ALYSSA CRAIGWELL, 17.1
Rebounds Per Game: ALYSSA CRAIGWELL, 7.0
Field goal percentage: KRISTINA TURNER, .588
Three Point Percentage: SAMANTHA PHILIPP, .413
Free throw Percentage: ALEXIS STROLLO, .870
Assists: ALEXIS STROLLO, 43
Steals: ALYSSA CRAIGWELL, 38
Blocks: BELLA BRUCE, 19
 
KEAN (2-10, 2-6 NJAC)
Points Per Game: Erika Mercedes, 10.5
Rebounds Per Game: Erika Mercedes, 4.8
Field goal percentage: Maya Edwards, .436
Three Point Percentage: Peyton Smith, .435
Free throw Percentage: Sela Lefler, .824
Assists: Erika Mercedes, 24
Steals: Erika Mercedes, 27
Blocks: Erika Mercedes, 8
 
 
SCOUTING KEAN
The Cougars enter this matchup with a 2-10 overall record and a 2-6 NJAC record, following their 65-54 victory over Rutgers-Newark on Wednesday. Last season, Kean finished just under .500 at 13-14, but a 9-9 NJAC record qualified them for the NJAC Tournament. They entered as the fifth-seed and bested Rowan, 74-68, before falling to TCNJ in the semifinals, 79-56. According to this season's NJAC Preseason Poll, they are projected to finish eighth this season.
 
 
SERIES HISTORY
The Red Hawks and the Cougars face each other for the 99^th time in their rivalry. Montclair is on top of the series with a record of 59-39. Montclair swept Kean last season
 
 
LAST MEETING
Montclair and Kean faced off last on February 15, 2025, with Montclair coming out on top, 80-60.
 
UP NEXT
 
Montclair State University resets its NJAC schedule for the final stretch of the season, starting with a matchup at Rowan on Wednesday, January 21, at 5:30 p.m.