Montclair, NJ - The Montclair State Women's Basketball team is ready to defend its title when it travels to Stockton for the NJAC Quarterfinals on Saturday. 
 
GAME INFO 
Tip-off from The Sports Center in Galloway, New Jersey, is slated for 5:30 p.m. Live coverage of the game can be found at monclairstateathletics.com.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Montclair fell in its regular-season finale at TCNJ on Wednesday by a score of 72-60. 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.


TEAM LEADERS
MONTCLAIR STATE (15-10, 11-7)
Points Per Game: ALYSSA CRAIGWELL, 16.5
Rebounds Per Game: ALYSSA CRAIGWELL, 6.8
Field Goal Percentage: ALEXIS STROLLO, .482
Three Point Percentage: SAMANTHA PHILIPP, .378
Free Throw Percentage: ALEXIS STROLLO, .814
Assists: ALEXIS STROLLO, 84
Steals: ALYSSA CRAIGWELL, 62
Blocks: ALYSSA CRAIGWELL, 31
 
STOCKTON (15-10, 12-6)
Points Per Game: Zemirah Enalls, 10.9
Rebounds Per Game: Zemirah Enalls, 11.0
Field Goal Percentage: Zemirah Enalls, .598
Three Point Percentage: Imene Fathi, .301
Free Throw Percentage: Imene Fathi, .826
Assists: Imene Fathi, 72
Steals: Bre Evans, 49
Blocks: Grace Speer, 28
 
SCOUTING STOCKTON
Stockton enters the playoffs as the fourth seed with a 12-6 record in the conference and a 15-10 overall record. Their matchup to end the season was a close loss to Rowan, after Stockton had just won five straight prior. Stockton makes their return to the NJAC tournament, after last appearing in the 2023-2024 season, and missing the tournament altogether last year with an 7-11 conference record. According to the 2025-26 NJAC Preseason Poll, the Ospreys were projected to finish fifth this season. 
 
SERIES HISTORY
Montclair State currently has the commanding lead in this rivalry, winning 54 out of the 79 games they've had all-time. Both teams won at their respective home courts when facing the other, and this game will determine the series winner for the year.
 
LAST MEETING
Montclair and Stockton last faced off earlier this month, on February 7th, where the Red Hawks came close but lost to the Ospreys on the road by a score of 71-63.
 
UP NEXT
The winner of Saturday's matchup will travel to take on top-seeded William Paterson in the semifinals on Tuesday, February 24, with a time to be determined later on.