Union, NJ – Freshman guard Nickie Carter scored 23 points, and Taylor Brown added 18 and nine rebounds as Montclair State picked up a bug NJAC victory with a 70-59 win over Kean University at Harwood Arena on Saturday afternoon.

Senior guard Cerys MacLelland had an excellent all-around game with 14 points, nine rebounds, and five assists helping the Red Hawks (14-4, 9-2 NJAC) extend their winning streak to 10. Payce Lange and Shannon McCoy had 21 and 17 points respectively for the Cougars (12-6, 8-3 NJAC).

Montclair jumped out to a 2-0 lead right off the tap as MacLelland found Carter for a layup in the first three seconds. Leading 4-3, Montclair scored nine of the next nine points to build a 13-3 advantage after Brown hit from close range with 4:06 left. Carter closed out the first quarter with a layup as MSU led 17-10 heading into the second period.

DarRique Smith hit from behind the arc with eight-minutes left in the second cutting the Red Hawks lead to 17-13. Montclair State responded with the next eight points, all by Brown. Her conventional three-point play started the run, and her three from long range with 6:33 remaining, gave MSU a 25-13 lead. The Red Hawks would maintain their double-digit advantage and headed into halftime in front 32-22.

MSU shot 46 percent from the field in the first half while holding the Cougars to just 9-of-28 shooting (28 percent).

In the third quarter, Montclair stretched its lead, further taking a 50-33 lead with 4:34 left on a MacLelland driving layup. Kean trimmed that back to 52-41 in the closing seconds, however, Carter was fouled with four seconds to go. She made both attempts at the line sending MSU into fourth with a 54-41 advantage.

Emily Dominguez buried a three-pointer 2:10 into the final quarter, making the score 57-46. The Red Hawks answered with back-to-back field goals by Carter and Kayla Bush, pushing the lead back to 15. Carter connected twice at the line to give Montclair State its largest lead at 64-47 before Kean ripped off 10 in a row to get within 64-57 after Lange made two foul shots with 2:58 remaining.

MacLelland and Cindy Foresta traded points keeping the seven-point margin. MSU then closed the game out at the line hitting 4-of-5. Brown sank the final two as MSU snapped its three-game losing streak to the Cougars.

Trisha Peterson chipped in with five points and six rebounds for the Red Hawks.

Montclair State is back at home for its next contest on Wednesday, January 29. The Red Hawks host Ramapo College at the Panzer Athletic Center looking the sweep the season series with the Roadrunners. MSU captured the first contest 61-56 in overtime in Mahwah back on December 4.