Montclair, NJ- The Montclair State women's basketball team hits the road for a matchup with Rutgers-Camden on Saturday afternoon.
 
GAME INFO
Tip-off from the Camden Athletic and Fitness Center is set for 3:00 p.m. Live coverage of the game can be found at monclairstateathletics.com.
 
LAST TIME OUT
 
Montclair was defeated on Wednesday at William Paterson by a score of 87-69. The Red Hawks (12-7, 8-4 NJAC) fell behind early as the Pioneers opened with seven of the game's first eight points before ALEXIS STROLLO answered with a pair of free throws at the 7:20 mark. A pair of buckets from William Paterson later on in the stanza extended their advantage to 14-5 at the midway point. Trailing by that same margin with three minutes on the clock, Montclair cut the game to two possessions on a layup from ALYSSA CRAIGWELL and a free throw from SAMANTHA PHILIPP. The Red Hawks closed the period with five of the final seven points, capped off by a three-point shot from SHANNON HUGHES to make the score 20-15.  Montclair kicked off the second quarter strong, as Strollo notched a tip-in to cut the difference to three on the opening possession. The two sides traded baskets over the next two minutes, with a pair of long-distance makes from CELINA BUSSANICH and Hughes making it a two-point game, 27-25. At the 7:27 mark, Hughes equalized with a layup as the Red Hawks would take the lead on their next trip up the floor on a three-pointer from Strollo. With three and a half minutes remaining in the half, a jumper from BELLA BRUCE extended the visitors' lead to three at 36-33. The Pioneers accumulated six of the final eight to go into the break with a slim one-point lead. William Paterson countered the run with a 14-0 run over the first three minutes of the third quarter to build a 15-point lead. After a Craigwell free throw to halt the stretch, the Pioneers tallied the next five to continue their offensive push in the period. MADISON MARCOTTE drained a three just past the halfway point of the quarter, and a layup from her with 3:22 on the clock made the score 64-46 in favor of the home side. The Pioneers pushed the difference to 24 with two minutes on the clock, but a basket from Bruce and a free throw from Craigwell made the margin 72-51 going into the final stanza. Montclair provided an immediate response in the fourth after a bucket from the home side, as Bruce amassed five points over the opening minute to lead to a three-pointer from Strollo to cut the margin to 15. With six minutes left, Marcotte found Strollo for a shot from beyond the arc to bring the Red Hawks closer, as Craigwell tallied a tip-in attempt to make the gap 11. Strollo cut the game to 10 points on a free throw with 4:29 remaining, but the Pioneers closed the game on a 12-4 scoring run to secure the NJAC victory.
 
 
TEAM LEADERS
MONTCLAIR STATE (12-7, 8-4 NJAC)
Points Per Game: ALYSSA CRAIGWELL, 17.3
Rebounds Per Game: ALYSSA CRAIGWELL, 7.2
Field Goal Percentage: ALEXIS STROLLO, .485
Three Point Percentage: SAMANTHA PHILIPP, .373
Free Throw Percentage: ALEXIS STROLLO, .831
Assists: ALEXIS STROLLO, 57
Steals: ALYSSA CRAIGWELL, 53
Blocks: BELLA BRUCE, 21
 
RUTGERS-CAMDEN (10-9, 7-5 NJAC)
Points Per Game: Courtney Edmundo, 14.6
Rebounds Per Game: Courtney Edmundo, 9.3
Field goal percentage: Courtney Edmundo, .477
Three Point Percentage: Tireya Wyatt, .318
Free throw Percentage: Hope Goodwine, .748
Assists: Hope Goodwine, 52
Steals: Courtney Edmundo, 37
Blocks: Courtney Edmundo, 31
 
SCOUTING RUTGERS-CAMDEN
 
The Scarlet Raptors enter this game in fifth-place on the NJAC standings with a 7-5 conference record and a 10-9 overall record after being bested by Rowan, 80-73 on Wednesday evening. Last season, they finished 9-16 with a 5-13 NJAC record, missing out on the conference tournament. According to the 2025-26 NJAC Preseason Poll, Rutgers-Camden is slated to finish sixth, but was labeled the conference's "Dark Horse" to win the NJAC Tournament.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Montclair and Rutgers-Camden will play against each other for the 73^rd  time in their long-standing conference series, which dates back to 1987. Montclair is in the driver's seat of the series at 55-17 and has won the past 11 games against Camden.
 
LAST MEETING
The Red Hawks and the Scarlet Raptors faced off earlier in the season on December 13, 2025. Montclair earned a 69-56 win in that matchup.
 
UP NEXT
 
Montclair State University is back home for a matchup with Ramapo on Wednesday, February 4. Tip-off from the Panzer Athletic Center is set for 5:30 p.m.