Montclair, NJ – Sophomore forward Alex McKinnon finished with 15 points, including a pair of clutch three-pointers in the fourth quarter as No. 25 Montclair State got past Stockton University, 60-52 on Saturday at the Panzer Athletic Center.
Senior Katie Sire finished with 19 points, six rebounds and six steals as the Red Hawks upped their record to 12-1 on the season while remaining perfect in the NJAC at 7-0. Montclair, which battled back from 12 down in the first period, has won 10 straight games.
Sasha Williams and Najha Treadwell each posted double-doubles for the Ospreys, who fell to 7-6 on the year, 3-4 in conference play. Williams totaled 18 points and 10 rebounds along with three blocks while Treadwell posted 14 points and 11 rebounds.
Stockton built a 10-point lead (21-11) after one quarter thanks in part to a sharp-shooting first period as the Ospreys connected on all five three-point attempts. Hailee Peorricelli hit three times and Lea Mendolla twice giving the visitors an 18-6 advantage with two minutes left.
But the Red Hawks flipped the script in the second outscoring Stockton 16-6 and holding the Ospreys to just 3-of-18 shooting (17 percent). The Red Hawks began the period with a 9-2 run over the first five minutes and got within 23-20 on Sire's layup. After a Treadwell layup, MSU scored six straight to take its first lead at 26-25 with 45 seconds left. Williams fast-break jumper on the next possession put Stockton back in front, however McKinnon made one from the line with three ticks left as the teams headed to the locker room knotted at 27-27.
Harmon hit from behind the arc to start the third quarter and Montclair grabbed a 34-27 lead after Sire scored from close range. Four consecutive points by Sire gave the Red Hawks their largest lead at 40-31 before Stockton scored the final four points making the score 40-35 heading into the fourth.
Williams scored the first seven points of the fourth quarter vaulting Stockton back into the lead at 42-40. After MSU tied the score with 4:58 to play, the teams went virtually back and forth with each other. Williams went first which was answered by a jumper in the paint by Kate Tobie. Following a turnover by Stockton, Sire drained a three-pointer from the corner giving MSU the lead but that was answered by Mendolla's three tying the game at 47-47.
The Red Hawks then put together a nine-point burst to seize control. McKinnon started it with a three-pointer and Harmon added a three-point play before McKinnon's second triple with 1:16 made the score 56-49. Williams and Sire traded free throws with Williams hitting from long range inside 25 seconds making the score 58-52. Sire sealed the game making two at the line with 19 seconds for what turned out to be the final margin.
Harmon finished with 11 points along with seven rebounds with Domonique Wirsing added 10 points, five rebounds. Tobie handed out nine assists.
Montclair State returns to action on Wednesday, January 10 with a road NJAC contest at Rutgers-Camden beginning at 6:00 pm.