Galloway, NJ – The Montclair State University women's basketball team was edged by Stockton 71-63 on Saturday afternoon.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Red Hawks (13-9, 9-6 NJAC) fell behind early as Stockton notched the first six points of the afternoon over the opening two and a half minutes. ALEXIS STROLLO got Montclair on the board with a driving layup, but another pair of baskets from the home side pushed their lead to eight, 10-2, as the stanza crossed its halfway point. SHANNON HUGHES found ALYSSA CRAIGWELL for a layup at the 4:22 mark to cut into the margin, but the Ospreys tallied the game's next nine points to build a 15-point lead with two minutes on the clock. BELLA BRUCE and Craigwell combined for four of the final five points of the quarter to make the score 20-8 after 10 minutes.
• Montclair came out strong to begin the second frame, as Strollo fed ISABELLA ORLANDO for a long distance make, leading to another layup from Strollo on the next possession to make it a seven-point game. After Stockton countered with a turnaround jumper, Orlando drained another three-pointer to bring the visitors within two possessions with 7:12 on the clock. The Ospreys expanded the difference back to eight, with the two sides trading baskets up until the 3:23 mark, where they notched seven consecutive points to reopen a 13-point advantage with under two minutes left. Montclair tallied two of the final three points of the half, as the home side went into the break up 34-22.
• The Red Hawks mounted another push to kick off the second half, rattling off the quarter's first eight points. Craigwell kicked off the stretch with an and-one conversion, followed by a CELINA BUSSANICH three-pointer and a jumper from Craigwell to force a Stockton timeout after two minutes. Holding a six-point advantage with six minutes on the clock, the Ospreys conceded six of the next eight points, capped off by a layup from Bruce to make the difference one possession. Trailing by six with 3:39 remaining in the quarter, MADISON MARCOTTE and Bruce hit jumpers to cut the game to 42-40, with a three-pointer from Craigwell at the two minute mark making it a one-point game. The home side tallied seven of the final 11 points to go into the final stanza up 51-47.
• Craigwell hit a jumper in the opening minute of the fourth quarter, and after Stockton responded with one of their own, Hughes drained a three-pointer to once again make it a one-point game, with 8:12 remaining. In a low-scoring period, the Ospreys tallied the game's next three points over the next two and a half minutes before Orlando connected on her third long-range attempt. After generating a turnover on the next possession, Montclair took the lead on a driving layup from Bruce with 3:43 on the clock, forcing a timeout from the home side. Stockton countered with a 8-0 run over the next three minutes to build a 64-57 advantage with 49 seconds on the clock. 

INSIDE THE RESULTS

• Strollo orchestrated the offense for Montclair with a team-high 17 points to go along with three assists and three rebounds. She has eclipsed double figures in each of her last five games.
• Craigwell compiled 16 points and seven boards, with Orlando notching 12 points for the afternoon on a trio of three-pointers.
• Bruce was the final Red Hawk in double-figures with 10 points, adding eight rebounds.

FROM THE COURT

"Tough NJAC battle today, credit to Stockton, they really pushed us today and made some key shots. We will get back to work on Monday to prepare for our next game." - Head Coach Karin Harvey

UP NEXT

The Red Hawks will return home for a pair of contests next week, kicking off with a clash against NJCU on Wednesday, February 11. Tip-off from the Panzer Athletic Center is scheduled for 5:00 PM.