Montclair, N.J. (3/6/15) – The Montclair State University women's basketball team surged in the first half on their way to picking up a first round win over Regis College (Mass.) by the final of 78-45 on Friday evening.
Senior Melissa Tobie (Elizabeth, N.J./Roselle Catholic) notched her 16th double-double session registering 22 points and 10 rebounds in just 20 minutes of action as every Red Hawk saw action in the contest. With the win, MSU improves to 27-1 and runs their winning streak to 13.
The Pride, making their third NCAA appearance, have faced off against the Red Hawks in all three first-round matchups, for three straight years. MSU has come up victorious in each of the contests.
After trading baskets to start the game, Montclair sprinted to a double-digit lead just four minutes in as the sister combo of Melissa and Kate Tobie combined for eight points in the span. MSU then paced the remainder of the period pushing their lead to as many as 27 points. The Red Hawks went into the break with a 45-22 lead.
Melissa Tobie recorded 18 first half points on a perfect 7-for-7 from the flow with five rebounds. Teammates Janitza Aquino (Kearny, N.J./Kearny) and Kate Tobie each contributed with six points as Aquino also added three assists. For Regis (22-6), rookie Brittany Stone (West Bridgewater, Mass./Wachusett Regional) tallied 10 points and seven boards.
The second half proved to be much of the same as Coach Harvey used her entire team, as all but two finished with double digit minute totals. With just over 10 minutes to go, the Red Hawks pushed out to their widest margin of the game, 74-34 on back-to-back free throw from sophomore Sage Bennett (Sicklerville, N.J./Winslow).
Aquino ended the night with 14 points and five assists while Bennett registered 10 points.
For the Pride, senior Janaya Bradley (New Haven, Conn./Hill House Regional) tallied 11 points in the loss.
Montclair will face Stevenson University (67-55 winners over Williams College) in second round action on Saturday at 6 p.m.