Montclair, NJ - Senior guard Alex Nardoza (Fords, NJ / Woodbridge) scored 21 points while classmate Sara Farrell (Marlton, NJ / Cherokee) added 16 points and nine rebounds as Richard Stockton upset No. 5 Montclair State handing the Red Hawks their first loss of the season in a 61-60 triumph on Wednesday evening.
Senior Lauren Alwan (Cherry Hill, NJ / Timber Creek) added eight points and nine rebounds for the Ospreys (11-3, 7-1 NJAC), who captured their third straight while also snapping a five-game losing streak to MSU in the process.
Senior forward Melissa Tobie (Elizabeth, NJ / Roselle Catholic) finished a double-double of 22 points and 11 rebounds for Montclair State (14-1, 7-1 NJAC), which suffered a rare home loss as the Red Hawks' 41-game winning streak at the Panzer Athletic Center came to an end with the defeat.
It is the second-longest home winning streak in school history behind men's soccer's 45-game winning streak from 2005-2009. Montclair's last loss at home came on January 7, 2012 in a 66-63 setback against Kean University.
MSU struggled from field in the first half missing 17 of its first 20 shots from the field, but manage to forge a 9-9 tie with 15:38 to play as Sage Bennett (Siclkerville, NJ / Winslow) connected from short range. Stockton then ripped off the next 12 points for a 21-9 lead on Marina Lukianov's (Howell, NJ / Howell) layup with 7:41 to go.
Tobie scored nine of Montclair's next 12 points, including a three-pointer with 3:26 remaining to get MSU within 23-21 however the Ospreys countered with the next 11 points to close out the half. Nardoza had a three-pointer and Sasha Williams (Cherry Hill, NJ / Cherry Hill West) put back a miss just ahead of the buzzer which was confirmed by officials following a short discussion. The goal would eventually prove big as Stockton led 34-21 at the break.
In the second half, the Ospreys maintained their double-digit lead holding off several MSU attempts. A Williams' layup with 1:38 left made the score 60-55 however Kayla Ceballos (Brooklyn, NY / Christ the King) drained a three from the corner with 38 ticks cutting the lead to 60-58. Lukianov was fouled with 18 seconds left and made one at the line for a three-point lead.
Tobie scored on a layup with six seconds for a 61-60 Stockton lead. Nardoza was fouled on the inbound a second later but missed her free throw. But Alwan was able to grab the rebound with :02 to play and managed to call timeout giving the Ospreys possession. Richard Stockton then got the ball in and ran out the clock for its first win over MSU since December 3, 2011.
Williams finished with six points, eight rebounds and five blocks for Stockton, which held a 44-35 edge on the boards. Lkianov also had eight points with Nardoza added seven rebounds and four assists.
Senior guard Janitza Aquino (Kearny, NJ / Kearny) had 13 points, five rebounds and six assists for MSU, which was 18-of-29 from the floor following its early struggles. Ceballos had 10 points and three steals off the bench with Bennett chipping in with eight points. Katie Sire (Hazlet, NJ / Raritan) collected seven points and five rebounds for MSU.
The Red Hawks will look to bounce back on Saturday, January 17 when it heads to Jersey City, NJ to face New Jersey City University at 2:00 pm. Richard Stockton is also at home hosting Kean University at 3:00 pm.