Ewing, NJ – The Montclair State University Women's Basketball team fell to The College of New Jersey 72-60 in the 2025-26 regular season finale on Wednesday evening.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Red Hawks (15-10, 11-7 NJAC) took an early one-point edge in the opening minute on a long distance shot from ALYSSA CRAIGWELL off a feed from SHANNON HUGHES. TCNJ countered with the game's next 13 points over the resulting four minutes before Montclair halted the run with a three-pointer from ALEXIS STROLLO. After the Lions re-extended their lead to double-digits on the next trip up the floor, Strollo would pull the visitors right back to within eight on a shot from beyond the arc as the shot clock was winding down. Montclair continued to make shots from distance, as Hughes drained one from the near corner at the 2:37 mark, with BELLA BRUCE sinking two free throws to make the gap two possessions. The Lions closed the frame with the final five points to take a 24-14 lead into the second quarter.
• TCNJ opened the next period by converting an and-one opportunity but were immediately met with a three-pointer from CELINA BUSSANICH. Trailing by 12 shortly after, Bruce tallied the next three points on the following two trips up the floor to cut the game to single digits once again. An 8-2 flurry from the Lions built a 37-22 advantage with six minutes left in the half, with neither side allowing a bucket for the next two minutes. Another bucket from Bruce, combined with a free throw from Strollo, made the gap 12 before the home side tallied a layup on the other side during the next possession. Strollo found Hughes for another corner three with under 90 seconds on the clock that would end up being the final tally of the half, with TCNJ leading 39-28 at the break.
• Montclair came out strong in the third quarter, as Hughes notched a pair of layups on consecutive possessions to trim the deficit to seven with just over eight minutes on the clock. 90 seconds later, with the margin the same, the Red Hawks poured in another long range basket on an attempt from ISABELLA ORLANDO to make the score 41-36. The Lions countered with five-straight points over the next 1:23 to vault ahead by 10 once again as the quarter passed its midway point. Montclair strung together a run of their own right after, tallying seven points in a row, capped off by a three-pointer from Philipp to make the margin one possession. Craigwell converted a pair of free throws to bring the visitors within one, but TCNJ scored the final five points of the quarter to take a 53-47 advantage into the fourth frame.
• The home side continued their run into the final stanza with five more points to build their lead up to 11 points with 6:20 remaining. Hughes ended the run two possessions later with a layup, but TCNJ hit a layup and three-pointer on the next two trips up the floor to extend the gap to 14 with just under five minutes on the clock. Montclair notched buckets from Hughes and Bussanich to make the difference 12, calling a timeout right after. Coming out of the stoppage, the Red Hawks forced a stop defensively, leading to another layup from Hughes off a feed from Strollo. TCNJ recorded five of the final seven points of the evening to claim the victory in the regular season finale.

INSIDE THE RESULTS

• Hughes recorded a team-high 19 points while grabbing 10 rebounds to mark her first career double-double.
• Bruce was the other Red Hawk in double figures, posting 12 points and eight rebounds.
• Strollo and Bussanich each notched nine points for the contest.

FROM THE COURT

"Tonight hurt, and it should. We didn't set the tone in the first quarter, and that inconsistency put us in a hole we spent the rest of the night trying to climb out of. But even in a tough loss, you learn who you are. I'm incredibly proud of our senior SHANNON HUGHES, who competed every possession, who refused to let the score dictate her effort, and who showed what toughness and leadership really look like. That's the standard. The lesson for all of us is simple: toughness and consistency can't come in waves — they have to show up from the opening tip. We'll grow from this." - Head Coach Karin Harvey

UP NEXT

The Red Hawks will travel to Stockton on Saturday, February 21 for the NJAC Tournament Quarterfinals. Tip-off from Galloway, NJ is scheduled for 5:30 PM.