Montclair, NJ (12/8/10) – Junior forward Folashade Akinde (Homewood, IL / Rich Central) scored on a layup with 5.3 seconds remaining to cap a wild final minute as Baruch College slipped past Montclair State, 60-58 in an NCAA Division III women's basketball contest at the Panzer Athletic Center on Wednesday evening.
Megan Bouwens (Commerce Township, MI / Lakeland) and Camille Voitot (Bourg-en-Bresse, France / Saint Pierre) each had 13 points as the Bearcats squandered a six-point lead with a minute left before recovering for their third straight win. Baruch improved to 6-2 with the win.
Senior forward Kisandra Ayanbeku (Brockton, MA / Randolph) finished with a double-double netting a game high 17 points and 11 rebounds as the Red Hawks fell to 3-4 with the loss. Montclair has alternated wins and losses in each of its first seven games this season.
Bouwens sank two free throws with 57 seconds left giving the Bearcats a 58-52 advantage. Montclair answered right back as Ayanbeku was fouled immediately and sank both attempts cutting the deficit back to four points with 54 ticks on the clock. Following a pair of timeouts by MSU, Montclair grabbed a missed free throw and raced down the floor with freshman Michelle Montagna (New Providence, NJ / New Providence) getting fouled with 42 seconds left.
Montagna made both free throws bringing MSU within 58-56. On Baruch's next possession, Sara Kelley (Newtown, CT / Newtown) came up with a steal. The Red Hawks turned that into the game-tying points as Montagna drove the lane for a layup with 21.7 seconds remaining knotting the score at 58-58.
After a timeout, Baruch took possession and moved to ball to Akinde on the left side foul line. She turned and dribbled her way around a defender for the layup as the Bearcats led 60-58 with 5.3 seconds to go. Montclair would get one last chance, however Kelley's 19-footer from the left side banked off the rim.
Jessica Duleba (Commerce Township, MI / Lakeland) had 11 points and eight rebounds for Baruch, which got 10 points and six rebounds from Akinde. Bouwens grabbed eight boards for the Bearcats, who were outrebounded in the game 52-36, including 22-14 on the offensive glass. Monique Salmon (Bronx, NY / Harry S. Truman) had four points and eight assists while Maria Turner (Bronx, NY / Aquinas) collected seven points and three rebounds.
Junior guard Jaime Ericson (Flemington, NJ / Hunterdon Central) had 16 points, eight rebounds and three assists for MSU, which received eight points off the bench from Kelley. Montagna had 11 and five rebounds and Colleen Kelly(Rockaway, NJ / Morris Hills) added six points and four rebounds.
Montclair State is home at the Panzer Athletic Center for a 2:00 pm contest against Susquehanna University.