Union, NJ – Senior Katie Sire registered a double-double of 24 points and 10 rebounds as No. 21 Montclair State put forth its best defensive effort of the season in a 53-34 victory over Kean University at the Harwood Arena on Wednesday evening.
Senior Taylor Harmon added 10 points and seven rebounds as the Red Hawks ran their winning streak to 13 games. MSU, now 15-1 on the season, remained unbeaten in the NJAC at 10-0, its first 10-0 start in conference play since the 2012-2013 campaign.
The Red Hawks allowed a season-low in point as it held the Cougars to just 20 percent (12-of-61) shooting on the night, including 13 percent (4-of-31) in the opening 20 minutes. MSU led 8-6 after one quarter of play and used a 10-0 run late in the second to double-up Kean (6-10, 3-7 NJAC) at the half, 24-12.
Kean's Marajiah Bacon connected on a three-pointer with 5:12 left in the second pulling the Cougars within 14-12. However that would be the last points Kean would get before intermission. Domonique Wirsing began the close-out run with a pair of free throws and freshman Nikki Stevens hit a short jumper before two foul shots from Sire with 2:04 to play made the score 20-12. Sire added another basket 30 seconds later and Harmon's jumper with 16 ticks send Montclair into the locker room up 12.
Harmon opened the second half with short jumper in the paint extending the lead to 26-12 before Kean mounted a comeback getting within 29-24 on Latice Cunningham's layup with 2:25 to go in the third. Wirsing hit twice from the and Harmon added a fast-break layup before Sire's two foul shots with 10 seconds gave Montclair a 35-25 advantage after three quarters.
The Cougars were able to dip the deficit back under double digits twice in the fourth, the last coming at 41-32 with 6:26 left. Harmon countered that with a layup and Sire converted a three-point play extending the MSU lead to 46-32 with just over four minutes remaining.
Alex McKinnon finished with six points and six rebounds while Wirsing put up five points and seven boards.
Montclair State returns to action on Saturday, January 20 traveling to Newark, NJ for its second meeting of the season with Rutgers-Newark. The Red Hawks and Scarlet Raiders square off at the Golden Dome at 6:00 pm.