Montclair, NJ – Junior Katie Sire scored 20 points leading four players in double figures as No. 18 Montclair State won its fourth straight knocking off Rowan University 68-62 at the Panzer Athletic Center on Saturday.

Senior forward Sage Bennett added 12 points and six rebounds for the Red Hawks, who upped their record to 18-1 on the season, 11-1 in the NJAC which tops the conference standings. Montclair also swept the season series against the Profs (13-7, 7-6 NJAC). MSU posted a 67-57 win in Glassboro in December.

MSU trailed just once in the contest, but took the lead at 6-5 after Tobie scored on a layup with 6:25 to play in the opening quarter. Curtis drained a three extending the lead to four and after Rowan knotted the game at 9-9, hit another with 1:38 left to give Montclair the lead for good.

The Red Hawks led 16-13 after one and were up 23-22 with 3:38 remaining in the second when Sire connected twice from the line for a three-point advantage. Following a Rowan foul shot, Sire hit a layup and Tobie scored off the break with 38 seconds left as MSU took a 29-24 lead into the locker room.

A 7-2 run by the Profs to open the second got the game deadlocked at 31-31. Alex Raring hit from behind the arc to forge the tie however Montclair would go on a 25-5 run over the next six minutes to break the game open. Sire began a 13-point run and later his a three to put MSU up 42-31. She finished with 10 points in the burst that gave the Red Hawks a 56-36 advantage with 2:24 left.

Montclair took a 57-40 lead into the final quarter and kept its lead in double digits before the Profs closed the game on a 9-2 run for the final margin.

Curtis finished with 10 points and eight rebounds for Montclair while Tobie had 10 points, three rebounds and four assists. Rachael Krauss missed becoming the fifth player in double figures, settling for nine along with six rebounds. Yazmine Lacey ripped down a team-best 10 rebounds.

Montclair State is back in action on Monday, January 30 with a snow makeup at Stockton University beginning at 6:00 pm. It will be the start of a busy week for the Red Hawks, who travel to William Paterson on Wednesday, February 1 before hosting the same Stockton team at the Panzer Athletic Center on Saturday, February 4.