Monday, February 14, 2011 (Women's Basketball)

MONTCLAIR WOMEN KEEP NJAC TOURNAMENT HOPES ALIVE WITH 67-31 WIN OVER NJCU

JERSEY CITY, NJ (www.NJCUGothicKnights.com) | Montclair State University limited New Jersey City University to just 11-of-61 shooting (.180) and kept its New Jersey Athletic Conference tournament hopes alive with a 67-31 win over the Gothic Knights in an NJAC North Division game on Monday night on "Coach Charlie Brown Court" at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center.

Montclair evens its record at 12-12 and 5-7 in the NJAC while defeating the Knights (5-19, 0-12 NJAC) for the 14^th consecutive meeting in a series the Red Hawks lead 45-3.

Coupled with #23/24 William Paterson University's 60-55 win over Ramapo College in Mahwah, Montclair and RCNJ are now tied for the final NJAC Tournament berth with one game remaining. Ramapo defeated MSU twice, but Montclair can still qualify for the NJAC Tournament if the Red Hawks can defeat NJCU in Montclair in the regular season finale on Wednesday, February 16 and William Paterson again defeats Ramapo in a game that night in Wayne, NJ.

Montclair shot 17-of-34 in the second half (.500) and 41.8 percent for the game (28-67). Leading by 11 at halftime, the Red Hawks outscored the Knights in the second half, 40-15, for the 36-point victory.

Montclair shot 9-of-18 from three-point range (.500) and registered a 26-6 margin in points in the paint and 18-6 off turnovers. The MSU bench outscored the NJCU reserves, 16-4. Montclair used solid ball movement to set up open looks, particularly in the paint, and contributed an assist on 23 of 28 made baskets.

In defeat for NJCU, freshman forward ALNISA HERNAIZ (Irvington, NJ/Irvington) matched her career-high with 14 rebounds, adding three steals. Sophomore guard GABRIELLE RIVERA (Teaneck, NJ/Saint Joseph of the Palisades) tallied 12 points, including 2-of-3 three-point shooting, with two steals. Sophomore point guard NIDIA CARMONA (Elizabeth, NJ/Elizabeth) had five assists and five steals.

Montclair was led by senior forward Kisandra Ayanbeku (Brockton, MA/Randolph) with a double-double of 15 rebounds (11 defensive), 13 points, four assists and two steals, while shooting 5-of-11 overall.

Junior guard Jaime Ericson (Flemington, NJ/Hunterdon Central) collected 10 points (4-9 FG, 2-4 3FG) and six rebounds. Sophomore forward Colleen Kelly (Rockaway, NJ/Morris Hills) also scored 10 points (5-9 FG) with four assists, four rebounds and three blocks and freshman guard Sara Kelley (Newtown, CT/Newtown) contributed 10 points (4-9 FG, 2-5 3FG). Sophomore guard Michelle Montagna (New Providence, NJ/New Providence) finished with eight points, three assists and three steals.

It took MSU until the 15:21 mark of the first half to score, but after NJCU gained a 4-2 lead, the Red Hawks would net 14 consecutive points for claim a 16-4 edge. Kelley hit back-to-back threes during the streak. Three-pointers by Carmona (5:13) and Rivera (3:19) trimmed the deficit to five, 19-14, before Montclair scored eight of the final 10 points of the half for an 11-point, 27-16 cushion at the break.

Montclair put the game out of reach early in the second period as it scored the first six points of the second half and opened the stanza on a 20-2 run to build a 29-point lead, 47-18 with 15:22 remaining. MSU led by at least 25 the remainder of the game and the final score was its largest margin of the night.

NJCU plays its final game of the season against Montclair State in the second half of a home-and-home series to close the year on Wednesday, February 16 at 6 p.m. in Montclair, NJ.

—www.njcugothicknights.com—

3.75pt'>

Points off Turnovers

12

1

Second Change Points

14

11

Fast Break Points

16

16

Bench Points

48

19