Montclair, NJ - The Montclair State University women's basketball team honors its three seniors before matching up with Kean on Saturday afternoon. 
 
GAME INFO
Tip-off from Panzer Athletic Center is set for 3:00 p.m. Coverage of the game can be found at montclairstateathletics.com.
 
LAST TIME OUT
SHANNON HUGHES buried a three to kick off the contest. After NJCU countered with a pair of made layups, a made jumper by CELINA BUSSANICH ignited a 14-0 run that pushed Montclair out to a 17-4 lead with 3:28 remaining in the opening frame. The Gothic Knights closed out the period with a 9-2 run, and Montclair held a 19-13 lead heading into the second. Jersey City converted a layup off a turnover that was answered by a good layup and deep ball from Hughes to push the lead out to 24-15. Facing a 28-17 deficit, NJCU clawed back again with a 10-3 run that lasted from 4:41 to 1:47. After both teams traded buckets with less than a minute left, Montclair capitalized on its final possession with ISABELLA ORLANDO diving for an offensive rebound and kicking it out to Hughes for a buzzer-beater three to end the half and give the Red Hawks a 36-29 lead entering the second half. The Gothic Knights generated a small 6-2 to make it a one-possession game in the first two minutes of the third quarter. BELLA BRUCE tipped in a shot off a missed three to not only keep NJCU at bay, but also started a 12-0 run that put Montclair ahead with a double-digit lead of 50-36 with 3:48 remaining in the third. A 7-0 run by New Jersey City was responded to with five unanswered by Montclair, and both teams hit two free throws in the final minute of the quarter to make the score 55-45 entering the final quarter. Montclair pulled away in the fourth quarter. Both teams exchanged buckets in the early going, but the Red Hawks were setting up their biggest run of the game. Between the 8:20 and 2:24 timestamps, Montclair outscored New Jersey City 21-4 and controlled a 79-56 advantage. The two teams went back-and-forth down the stretch, and when the final whistle blew, the Red Hawks picked up the 83-61 win.
 
TEAM LEADERS
MONTCLAIR STATE (14-9, 10-6 NJAC)
Points Per Game: ALYSSA CRAIGWELL, 16.8
Rebounds Per Game: ALYSSA CRAIGWELL, 7.0
Field Goal Percentage: ALEXIS STROLLO, .485
Three Point Percentage: SAMANTHA PHILIPP, .382
Free Throw Percentage: ALEXIS STROLLO, .826
Assists: ALEXIS STROLLO, 71
Steals: ALYSSA CRAIGWELL, 59
Blocks: BELLA BRUCE, 27
 
KEAN (2-18, 2-14 NJAC)
Points Per Game: Erika Merceds, 9.5
Rebounds Per Game: Cara McCoy, 4.9
Field Goal Percentage: Maya Edwards, .418
Three Point Percentage: Maya Edwards, .356
Free Throw Percentage: Dacia Mack, .818
Assists: Cara McCoy, 39
Steals: Makaila Desire, 33
Blocks: Erika Mercedes, 10
 
SCOUTING KEAN
The Cougars go into this matchup with a 2-18 record for the season, with a 2-14 record in the conference. Kean looks to bounce back after an eight-game losing streak, most recently getting blown out by William Paterson University at the beginning of their road trip. After missing the NJAC Tournament last season and losing some star players in the offseason, most notably the reigning Co-Defensive Player of the year Maddison Vaughn, Kean was predicted to finish 8th in the NJAC Women's Basketball Preseason Poll.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Montclair State holds the lead in the all-time women's basketball series against Kean, with a 60–39 record. While the Red Hawks hold a substantial lead, in the last ten matchups, the record stands 5-5, establishing a bit of a rivalry between the two. Montclair looks to sweep the season series, which they would do in a victory today. 
 
LAST MEETING
The Red Hawks and the Cougars last faced off in Union on January 17th, 2026, where Montclair dominated with an 83-35 victory. 
 
UP NEXT
Montclair State University has its final regular-season matchup of the year with a trip to Ewing to face TCNJ.