GLASSBORO, NJ – The Montclair State University women's basketball team won 67-57 at Rowan University on Saturday afternoon.
Guard/forward Katie Sire (jr. Hazlet, NJ/Raritan) led the Red Hawks with a game-high 20 points and she also pulled down six boards. Guard Zoe Curtis (sr. Little Silver, NJ/Red Bank Reg.) recorded a double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds. Guard Kate Tobie (jr. Elizabeth, NJ/Roselle Catholic) collected 11 points, seven rebounds and five assists.
Montclair State is 9-0 overall and 5-0 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. This week, the Red Hawks are ranked 12
th in the D3hoops.com Top 25 Poll and 17
th by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association. Rowan has a 7-2 record with a 3-2 conference mark.
Guard
Valerie Garofalo (sr. Ventnor, NJ/Holy Spirit) scored 11 points for the Profs and guard
Anyssa Sanchez (sr. Pine Hill, NJ/Sterling) contributed with 10. Center
April Szymczyk (jr. Jackson, NJ/Jackson Liberty) and forward
Melissa Tarte (jr. Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) added eight and seven points respectively.
In the third quarter, Montclair State led 44-37 after guard Rachael Krauss (sr. Farmingdale, NJ/Colts Neck) hit a three-pointer with 3:10 on the clock. Rowan went ahead 45-44 (0:31) with eight straight points, two baskets by Tarte and two from Garofalo. Forward Sage Bennett (sr. Sicklerville, NJ/Winslow Twp.) took back the lead with two free throws (0:18). At the nine-second mark, Sanchez's layup gave the Profs a one-point advantage (47-46) going into the final period. The Red Hawks were up 60-51 (3:10) after a 14-4 surge. Sire poured in nine of the 14 points. Forward
Jenna Hoffner (fr. Medford, NJ/Shawnee) cut the deficit to five (60-55) with a layup at 1:44. The Red Hawks sealed the victory with a 7-2 spurt. Sire had five points and Curtis registered two free throws.
The Red Hawks started the game with 11 straight points in 3:14. Four different players scored in the run. Guard
Mandy Jiang (sr. Kearny, NJ/Kearny) made two foul shots (3:25) and Garofalo had a layup (2:10) to pull the Profs within seven (13-6). Curtis hit a jumper (1:43) and a three (1:08), which made the score 18-6. Montclair State was ahead 18-10 at the end of the quarter.
Tobie's layup at 8:30 in the second stanza increased the lead to 15 (25-10). Szymczyk had two straight layups and Rowan trailed 27-18 with 5:06 remaining. The Red Hawks led by 15 (33-18) after guard Tiarra Dillard's (so. Peekskill, NY/Peekskill) three-pointer at 4:09. The Profs were down by eight (34-26) going into the break after an 8-1 spurt. Szymczyk contributed with four of the eight points.
Rowan's next game is at Widener University on Tuesday, Dec. 13 at 7 p.m.
