GLASSBORO, NJ – Savanna Holt and Nicole Mallard each had 13 points to lead a balanced effort as Rowan overcame a slow start to roll over Montclair State, 60-36, in NJAC women's basketball action at Esby Gym. The Profs improved to 7-8 and 4-4 in the conference as they recorded their first win of the New Year.
 
Eliana Santana had 11 points on 5-for-7 shooting and Jess McLaughlin scored 10 while Kate Herlihy grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds for the Profs. Holt shot 8-for-8 from the foul line with Mallard converting 4-for-9 from the field and making all five of her free throw attempts.  
 
Montclair State (6-9; 3-5) opened the game taking control in the low-scoring first quarter, making four three-pointers to jump out to a 14-2 lead and then a 16-3 advantage at the end of the period.
 
The second quarter was a reversal of the first, as Rowan took over, outscoring the Red Hawks, 14-9, as the Profs started the period with an 8-0 run, led by four points from Mallard.
Although neither team made a three, the Profs outrebounded the visitors, 15-6, and went 11-for-12 from the foul line, to take a 22-20 halftime lead.
 
Rowan kept the momentum going at the start of the second with an 11-0 run, all scored by Mallard and Herlihy, to take a 33-20 lead at 6:33. After MSU got on the board, Holt accounted for the Profs' final nine points of the quarter as Rowan owned a 42-25 advantage.
 
It was more of the same in the fourth quarter as Rowan ended the game on a 12-3 run that included eight points, with two three-pointers, from McLaughlin. The game's final margin was the Profs' biggest lead of the game.
 
The Profs are back in action at home on Saturday, January 13^th when they take on Rutgers-Newark in the second game of an NJAC doubleheader at 3 p.m.