Montclair, NJ – Senior guard Janitza Aquino (Kearny, NJ / Kearny) scored four of her game-high 21 points in a game-opening seven-point run by No. 5 Montclair State as the Red Hawks remained unbeaten with a 79-60 victory over Rutgers-Camden on Saturday afternoon.
Senior forward Melissa Tobie (Elizabeth, NJ / Roselle Catholic) finished with 11 points, six rebounds, five assists and five steals for the Red Hawks, who improved to 14-0 with their 17th straight win over the Scarlet Raptors. MSU (7-0 NJAC) upped its record to 37-15 in the all-time series.
Senior guard Alex Gravinese (Audubon, NJ / Audubon) finished with 15 points and three steals for the Scarlet Raptors (4-10, 0-7 NJAC), which dropped its third consecutive game.
Aquino scored off the opening tap and finished off a steal by Tobie 37 seconds into the game as MSU grabbed a quick 4-0 lead. Sage Bennett (Sicklerville, NJ / Winslow) hit a free throw and Kate Tobie (Elizbaeth, NJ / Roselle Catholic) added a layup to finish off the run which turned into a 23-10 lead with 12:10 to go as Melissa Tobie drained a three-pointer.
Tanjae Lewis (Magnolia, NJ / Sterling) connected once from the line to pull the Ratpros within 23-14 with 10:51 remaining however the Red Hawks scored 12 of the next 16 points for a 35-16 advantage on Kayla Ceballos' (Brooklyn, NY / Christ the King) steal and layup. Freshman Taylor Harmon (Saddle Brook, NJ / Saddle Brook) got the Montclair's final four points lifting the Red Hawks to a 44-24 lead at the break.
Bennett and Kate Tobie each had 12 points for MSU which put five players in double figures. Ceballos contributed 10 points along with a pair of steals and assists. Bennett grabbed a team-high seven rebounds with Rachael Krauss (Farmingdale, NJ / Colts Neck) pulling down five.
Kamari Talley (Camden, NJ / Creative Arts) had 13 points, nine rebounds and three steals with Michelle Obasi (Camden, NJ / Camden Catholic) posting 11 points and eight rebounds. Cara Racobaldo (Pennsauken ,NJ / Camden Catholic) recorded six points, six rebounds and four assists.
Both teams return to action on Wednesday, January 14 with home NJAC contests. Montclair State hosts Richard Stockton at 5:00 pm while the Scarlet Raptors entertain New Jersey City University at 6:00 pm.