MONTCLAIR, NJ – Senior center Stephanie Ross (Nutley, NJ/Nutley HS) led Rutgers-Newark with 13 points and senior guard Nerlande Nicolas (Maplewood, NJ/Columbia) added 10 points and seven rebounds, but Montclair State held off several second-half surges to down the Scarlet Raiders, 60-53, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference contest in Panzer Gym.
NCAA Box Score
The Raiders (10-3, NJAC 0-2) saw their four-game winning streak snapped while the Red Hawks (8-5, NJAC 1-1) rattled off their fourth straight win over Rutgers-Newark.
Sophomore forward Indhira Cabrera (West New York, NJ/Memorial) came off the bench for a game-high eight rebounds and six points. Junior forward Bimpe Fageyinbo (Morris Plains, NJ/Parsippany Hills) pulled down seven rebounds to help Rutgers-Newark control the backboards, 39-30.
Despite nine first-half points by Ross, the Raiders fell behind 33-19 at the half. But senior guard Sabrina Sanchez (Keasbey, NJ/Woodbridge) netted all eight of her points in the second half and Nicolas chipped in six points as Rutgers-Newark put the pressure on MSU.
Nicolas capped a 13-0 run during which six different Raiders netted baskets as Rutgers-Newark whittled the deficit to 39-38 with 9:56 left.
After a junior guard Marianne McGovern free throw pushed the Red Hawk lead back to eight points, Ross had two inside buckets before Sanchez capped an 8-2 run with a trey with 4:43 remaining to make it 50-48. But, MSU never lost its lead, getting a jumper from senior guard Jessica Garrabrant and a pair of free throws from McGovern to push their lead back to six points with 3:41 left.
A Sanchez 3-point jumper got the Raiders back within three points at 54-51 with 2:26 left, but Garrabrant answered with a pair of free throws and a layup to make it 58-51 with 1:26 on the clock.
Sophomore forward Christine Cristino scored a game-high 18 points for the Red Hawks while Garrabrant finished with a dozen points and seven rebounds. McGovern and reserve Amy Bonk each had 10 points for MSU with McGovern adding four assists.
Rutgers-Newark hosts Rowan in an NJAC doubleheader on Saturday in The Golden Dome. The women tip off at 5:30 p.m. with the men's game to follow at 7:30.
