Jersey City, NJ - Junior guard Nickie Carter scored a game-high 28 points as Montclair State powered past defending conference champion New Jersey City for n 88-64 victory at the John J. Moore Athletic Center on Saturday.
One of four players in double figures, Trisha Peterson, had 16 points and nine rebounds. Kendall Hodges and Megan Duffy each added 14 as MSU (7-7, 5-4 NJAC) outscored the Gothic Knights (4-5, 2-7 NJAC), 50-27 over the final two quarters turning a one-point halftime advantage into a 24-point win in the first meeting between the two since last April's conference championship contest.
Carter scored 15 points in the first half as Montclair led 38-37 at the break. After the first, the Red Hawks held a 20-16 advantage but found itself tied at 31-31 with 5:15 to play in the second after Liyah Allen converted a three-point play. Peterson put MSU back in front with a layup. However, NJCU's Damaris Rodriguez hit a three for a 34-33 Knights lead with three minutes remaining.
Carter answered with a jumper, but Rodriguez hit a triple with 47 ticks making the score 37-35 in favor of the hosts. Hodges got one back on a free throw with 18 seconds. Kelly Smith, who finished with 11 rebounds, pulled down the offensive rebound off the second foul shot, and MSU made the most of the second chance as Carter nailed a jumper with six seconds, sending Montclair into the break with the one-point lead.
However, the second half would belong to the Red Hawks as Montclair shot 57 percent (21-of-37) while holding NJCU to just 9-of-29 (31 percent) from the floor.
A 10-2 run to open the half by the Gothic Knights left Montclair on the wrong side of a 47-40 score with eight minutes to play in the third. The Red Hawks answered with a 21-5 win over the next five minutes. Carter gave MSU the lead for good with a layup and free throw for a 51-49 lead with 4:34 left. Peterson's three-pointer extended the lead to five, and a three by Duffy upped the advantage to 57-50. Duffy connected from behind the arc with a minute remaining, widening the lead to 66-54 before a Rodriguez jumper in the closing seconds sent MSU to the fourth quarter up 66-56.
The Red Hawks dominated the final period as it held NJCU to 2-of-13 shooting and outscored the Gothic Knights, 22-8. Montclair was 9-of-16 from the field and put the game away with an 11-1 to begin the fourth. Peterson buried a three, and field goals by Duffy and Carter made the score 73-56. Smith tacked on two free throws, and a Carter layup with 5:28 left extended the Red Hawks' advantage to 77-57.
Smith had nine points while Carter added seven rebounds and six assists to complete her afternoon. Hodges handed out five assists.
Montclair State is next in action on Wednesday, January 19, beginning the second half of its NJAC slate. MSU hosts Kean University at 6:00 pm in the Panzer Athletic Center, looking to avenge a 69-61 loss to the Cougars back in November.