Box Score
GLASSBORO, NJ – Forward Lauren Gregg scored the winning basket with 4.1 seconds remaining for Rowan University in a 73-71 victory over Montclair State University in a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) game on Saturday afternoon.
Montclair State attempted a three-pointer as time expired. With 2:49 remaining, forward Erin Farrell (so. Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) hit a jumper that gave the Profs a four point advantage (71-67). The Red Hawks followed with a jumper by forward Kisandra Ayanbeku (sr. Brockton, MA/Randolph) and guard Theresa Towns (fr. Morristown, NJ/Morristown) tied the score (1:50) with two foul shots. At the 28 second mark, Gregg (jr. Collingswood, NJ/Collingswood) missed a jumper and Rowan got the ball back with a team rebound. Gregg’s next attempt was good for the win.
Rowan had four players that scored in double figures. Forward Brittany Baum (jr. Egg Harbor Twp., NJ/Egg Harbor) and Gregg each contributed with 13 points. Gregg also grabbed six rebounds. Guard Gina Catanzariti (sr. Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) totaled 12 points, five boards and three steals. Farrell chipped in with 11 points and six rebounds. Guard Lauren Creel (jr. Pennsauken, NJ/Pennsauken) added nine points, five rebounds and four assists. Guard Alissa Lamey (jr. Northfield, NJ/Mainland Reg.) collected eight points, six rebounds and six assists.
The Profs improve to 8-7 overall and 3-2 in the conference. The Red Hawks drop to 7-9 on the season and they have a 1-4 NJAC mark. For MSU, guard Jaime Ericson (jr. Flemington, NJ/Hunterdon Central) scored a game-high 23 points. She also pulled down eight rebounds. Ayanbeku had a double-double with 18 points and 10 boards. Towns totaled 10 points and dished seven assists. Forward Colleen Kelly (so. Rockaway, NJ/Morris Hills) registered eight rebounds. Guard Michelle Montagna (so. New Providence, NJ/New Providence) tallied six points and five assists.
Rowan started the second half with a five point lead (37-32). Creel hit two free throws at 14:12 and the Profs were ahead 52-41. Farrell’s jumper (12:51) made the score 59-44. Rowan had a 15 point lead (59-44) after a jumper by Gregg at 12:15. Montclair State came back with a 13-2 surge to pull within four points (61-57) with 6:21 remaining. Towns, Ericson and Ayanbeku had four points apiece while guard Devin Feeney (so. Whippany, NJ/Whippany Park) had one. Kelly’s layup (4:39) cut the deficit to two points (66-64). Guard Chanelle Banta (jr. Bergenfield, NJ/Bergenfield) had a basket (4:19) and Catanzarti made the first of two foul shots (4:01) to lead 69-64. Ericson hit a three-pointer at 3:23 before Farrell’s jumper at 2:49. Ayanbeku scored 12 second half points while Gregg totaled 11.
In the first stanza, Ayanbeku’s jumper at 16:33 put the Red Hawks up 10-7. The Profs scored nine straight points to lead by six (16-10) at 12:53. Baum had six of the nine points. MSU answered with a 14-1 surge for a seven point advantage (24-17) at 8:30. Ericson led the way with seven points while Towns and Feeney added four and three points respectively. At 6:18, Ayanbeku’s layup put MSU ahead by 11 points (32-21).
Rowan ended the half with a 16-0 run that made the score 37-32 at the intermission. Catanzariti and Baum each had five points while forward Bria Hill (fr. Atlantic City, NJ/Atlantic City), Farrell and Creel added two apiece. Ericson led all scorers with 16 points and Baum followed with 11.
Rowan travels to Richard Stockton College on Wednesday, January 19 for a 6 p.m. conference game.
