Montclair, NJ – Senior Katie Sire scored six of her game-high 24 points in the final three minutes as No. 23 Montclair State used another late push to knock off The College of New Jersey, 54-51 at the Panzer Athletic Center on Saturday afternoon.
Senior forward Taylor Harmon added 10 points, including a big three-pointer late as the Red Hawks (14-1) closed out their first half NJAC slate a 9-0 while also stretching their winning streak to 12 games.
Sophomore forward Jen Byrne had 20 points for TCNJ, which had its five-game winning streak halted. The Lions, who battled back from a 12-point first-quarter deficit, are now 11-4 overall, 6-2 in conference play.
Montclair State grabbed an 18-6 lead after one quarter. Harmon connected on a three-point for a 5-0 lead and an eight-point run later in the period extended the lead to 13-4 with 3:20 to go. Katie Tobie nailed a three-point with 90 seconds left in the opening period and Sire fastbreak layup inside a minute left put Montclair in front by 12.
The Lions however chipped away at the deficit closing within 26-19 at the break. A 16-12 third quarter made it a three-point game heading into the final period. Charlotte Schum drew TCNJ within 38-37 early in fourth. Harmon's layup with 6:47 to go boosted the lead back to 43-39 however the Lions scored the next seven points to take their first lead of the game.
Shannon Devitt hit two from the line and Samantha Famulare's layup tied the game at 43-43. Byrne put New Jersey on top with a free throw and her basket with 3:06 left gave the Lions a 46-43 advantage.
Harmon responded with a three from the left corner tying the game at 46-46 with 2:49 to go and Alex McKinnon turned a TCNJ turnover into points before Sire's steal and layup made the score 50-46 with just over two minutes to play.
Devitt and Sire traded layups before two free throws by Nikki Schott with 52 ticks put the margin at 52-50 in favor of MSU. Following a Red Hawk turnover with 18 seconds, Schum was fouled with 18 seconds left giving TCNJ a chance to tie. She made the first by missed the second with MSU getting the rebounds 17 seconds left.
Having only one team foul up to that point, the Lions spent four seconds committing fouls to put the Red Hawks on the line. Sire made both attempts for a 54-51 lead with 13 seconds. The Lions called an advancement timeout moving the ball into the front court. MSU would force New Jersey to nearly dribble out the clock before Kate O'Leary got off a three-point attempt that hit the front of the rim and the backboard before rolling off the left side.
Sire added four rebounds, four assists and five steals. Harmon gabbed four rebounds with Tobie adding six points, four rebounds and six assists. Kim Calloway chipped in with five points and four steals.
Montclair State is back in action on Wednesday, January 17 at the Harwood Arena in Union, NJ. MSU takes on Kean University at 6:00 pm in the second meeting of the year between the two. The Red Hawks captured the first contest 68-51 at home on November 21.