Mahwah, NJ – For the second straight game the Montclair State women's basketball team overcame a fourth-quarter deficit for a five-point victory. This time it would take a little longer as the Red Hawks rallied past previously unbeaten Ramapo 61-56 at the Bradley Center on Wednesday evening.
Junior guard Taylor Brown scored 19 of her 23 points in the final 25 minutes as MSU (4-2) registered its third straight victory while improving to 2-0 in NJAC play. Last Tuesday, Montclair rallied in the fourth quarter for a 60-55 win at William Paterson.
Samantha Rinaldi and Stacey Porzl had 19 and 15 points apiece for the Roadrunners (7-1, 1-1 NJAC).
Montclair State trailed 41-33 heading into the fourth quarter with the lead hitting double-digits as Sarah Minchin scored on a layup 58 seconds into the final period. The Red Hawks cut that in half to 44-39 on a layup by Nickie Carter with 7:21 to play.
MSU was still behind with just over four minutes play but Brown drilled a three making the score 47-44. Two free throws by Kim Calloway with 2:43 left pulled the Red Hawks within 50-48 however Porzil answered to put Ramapo back up four. Brown came up clutch again burying a three with 1:39 to go bringing Montclair within 52-51.
Cerys MacLelland grabbed a rebound with under a minute to go and was fouled. She made one that line tying the game at 52-52. The teams each missed opportunities to take the lead. The Roadrunners would get a final chance however Porzl's three at the buzzer went off the mark.
Brown vaulted MSU into the lead in the opening minute of the overtime with a three-pointer and a jumper from Alex McKinnon with 2:19 remaining gave Montclair a 57-52 advantage. Rinaldi scored four straight, the last on a layup with 33 ticks for a 57-56 MSU lead. MacLelland made one free throw six seconds later for a two-point advantage.
Jessica Repasy misfired on a jumper at the other end. Calloway corralled the rebound and sank a foul shot with 19 seconds extending the lead to 59-56. Ramapo could not connect on a layup with 12 seconds. MacLelland got the rebound and moved the ball up to McKinnon who was fouled with nine seconds left. McKinnon made both free throws to seal the victory for Montclair.
McKinnon finished with 13 points and seven rebounds while MacLelland hauled in a game-best 16 rebounds along with five points and four assists. Saniya Myers added nine points and four rebounds off the bench. Calloway registered four steals.
Montclair State returns to action on Saturday, December 7 when it hosts Kean University at the Panzer Athletic Center with tipoff set for 3:00 pm. It will be the first meeting between the two since the Cougars knocked off the Red Hawks 81-72 in the opening round of last season's NJAC Tournament.