Glassboro, NJ – Senior guard JANITZA AQUINO scored 16 of her 18 points in the second half as No. 5 Montclair State rebounded from an 18-point halftime deficit for a 63-60 win at Rowan University on Wednesday evening.

Junior forward MELISSA TOBIE netted all 13 of her points over the final 20 minutes, including a pair late free throws providing the difference as the Red Hawks remained unbeaten on the season at 13-0 overall, 6-0 in the NJAC.

Anyssa Sanchez finished with 10 points for Rowan (9-3), which suffered its first conference loss (5-1 NJAC).

Returning from a nine-day layoff, Montclair State was held to a season-low 17 points in the first half as the Red Hawks managed to make just 6-of-25 (24 percent) attempts from the field. Meanwhile the Profs were almost the opposite connecting on 16-of-34 from the floor (47 percent) building a 35-17 lead at halftime.

Sanchez had six in the opening 20 minutes with Summer Crilley sinking a three-point field giving Rowan its largest lead of the game, 35-16 with 3:13 left. Montclair's TAYLOR HARMON hit 1-of-2 at the line in the last minute for the 18-point margin at the break.

In the second half, the teams seemed to reverse roles as Rowan shot 27 percent from the field while the Red Hawks upped their percentage going 12-of-30 (40 percent) while also taking advantage at the free throw line making 17-of-21 at the line compared to just 5-of-10 for the host Profs.

Rowan maintained its double-digit lead and held a 44-32 advantage when Sanchez scored on a layup with 12:34 left. MSU responded with 13-0 run to take the lead for the first time. Junior KAYLA CEBALLOS ignited the run with a three-point play and a three by RACHAEL KRAUSS made the score 44-38. ZOE CURTIS and SAGE BENNETT each hit twice from the foul line to bring MSU within 44-42 before a thereby Aquino just past the halfway point of the period gave the Red Hawks a 45-44 lead.

The Profs would regain the lead however Montclair grabbed it back with 7:44 to go on a layup by KATIE SIRE before two free throws by Tobie gave MSU a 50-47 lead. Aquino's three pointer put MSU in front by its largest margin at 53-47 however Rowan scored 10 of the next 12 points with Valerie Garofalo's three-pointer giving the Profs a 57-55 lead with 1:29 left.

Tobie tied the game with two foul shots and then put MSU in front 59-57 with a steal and layup with 58 seconds to go. The Profs got one point back at the line however Aquino sank two with 28 ticks for a 61-58 lead. Garofalo was fouled with 19 seconds and made it a one-point contest, 61-60 but Tobie countered that with two free throws putting the Red Hawks up 63-60.

Rowan would get three chances to tie the game inside the final 10 seconds however Garofalo was off the mark twice and Bria Hill's three-pointer with one second left was swatted away by Tobie.

Tobie registered her third straight double-double as she grabbed 13 rebounds in addition to recording four blocks and three steals. Sire finished with 10 points, seven rebounds and four assists for MSU with Bennett posting eight points and four rebounds.

The Red Hawks return to action on Saturday, January 10 when it hosts Rutgers-Camden at the Panzer Athletic Center at 3:00 pm.