MSU Captures Fourth Straight; Moves Into Second in NJAC Race

Galloway, NJ – Junior forward ALEX MCKINNON and freshman guard JULIA SUTTON each scored 14 points helping Montclair State to its fourth straight victory with a 65-48 win over Stockton University at the Sports Center on Saturday afternoon. DOMONIQUE WIRSING collected 13 points and eight rebounds as the Red Hawks (16-8) not only extended their winning streak but moved into a tie for second place with Rowan University in the NJAC standings at 12-5. The puts MSU, which defeated Rowan twice in the regular season, in the driver's seat to earn the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye in the conference tournament. All it has to do is win its final regular-season game on Wednesday, February 13 at home versus Rutgers-Camden (6pm). A loss and Rowan victory on Wednesday would make the Red Hawks the No. 3 seed with a home game in the first round on February 16. Both teams began the game cold with neither scoring in the first three minutes until McKinnon connected on a jumper for the first points of the game. She would hit a three a minute later with a basket by Wirsing giving MSU a 9-3 advantage. Montclair would hold the Ospreys to just two points over the final five minutes of the opening period. Sutton hit once from the line giving the Red Hawks a 12-5 lead heading into the second quarter. CERYS MACLELLAND got that lead to nine points with the first field goal of the second and a three by TAYLOR BROWN with 7:45 to go widened the lead to 19-7. Stockton was able to trim that deficit down to three points 26-23 after Lajerah Wright converted a three-point play. Wirsing answered with a layup and one free throw each by MacLelland and McKinnon in the final minute gave Montclair a 30-23 advantage at the break. McKinnon's three to begin the second half boosted the lead back to double digits. The Ospreys were able to dip that back below 10 points twice, the last time coming with 5:33 to go on a Kristin Flournoy bucket making the score 40-31. McKinnon then drained a three-pointer putting the lead back to a 11 and a jumper by Sutton ahead of the quarter buzzer gave the Red Hawks a 52-37 advantage. MSU would eventually get the lead up to 19 points twice. ANNIE WALSH sank two free throws with two minutes remaining giving Montclair State a 65-46 lead. MacLelland, who had seven points, grabbed eight rebounds with McKinnon added six as MSU outrebounded the Stockton 48-29 including 19 offensive rebounds. Sophomore KAYLA BUSH led the Red Hawks with 10 rebounds along with six points.