Michele Auerbacher (Franklin Lakes, NJ/Ramapo) finished with 15 points and six rebounds as Richard Stockton won its fourth straight game and moved back to .500 overall at 9-9 while improving to 5-2 in the conference’s South Division. It was also the Ospreys second straight win over MSU as it trimmed the series lead to 28-15 in favor of the Red Hawks.
Senior forward Ferin Catlett (Lawnside, NJ/Haddon Heights) finished with 19 points and three blocked shots for the Red Hawks, who are also 9-9 following the loss. MSU is now 5-3 in the league’s North Division.
Richard Stockton had taken a 38-33 lead with 13 minutes left in the second half as Ashley Hart (Point Pleasant Beach, NJ/Peddie) drained a three-pointer. Montclair then went on an 11-0 run to turn the deficit into a six-point lead. Meghan Kelley (Newtown, CT/Newtown) and Jessica Garrabrant (Denville, NJ/Morris Knolls) each hit a pair of free throws to put the Red Hawks up one before Janelle Biamonte (Secaucus, NJ/Marist) buried a three-pointer for a 42-38 lead. Stephanie Machin (New Providence, NJ/New Providence) would cap the run with a layup as Montclair built a 44-38 advantage with 10:29 to play.
The Ospreys would eventually regain the lead five minutes later with their 7-0 run. After a Machin make for a 48-44 Red Hawk lead, Auerbacher hit a three pointer to bring the deficit to a one. Alicia Morris (Easthampton, NJ/Rancocas Valley) put Stockton in front with a layup before Auerbacher’s jumper pushed the lead to 51-48 with 4:42 left.
Montclair State would get within a point at 54-53 with 2:07 left as Machin, who finished with 17 points, converted two free throws. However, Auerbacher countered with two of her own and Russell added another as the Ospreys led 57-53 with 53 seconds to play. Richard Stockton would eventually close out the game by hitting 7-of-8 at the charity stripe.
Jenna Shenk (Mt. Laurel, NJ/Bishop Eustace) added 14 points and four rebounds for Richard Stockton, which got 11 points from Lisa Neira (Cresskill, NJ/Cresskill) The Ospreys shot 57 percent in the second half (12-of-21) and were 13-of-17 at the foul line to finish the game 19-of-24 (79 percent).
Machin added seven rebounds and four assists while Kelley chipped in with six points. Montclair State shot 38 percent (21-of-56) for the game and were 13-of-17 (77 percent) at the free throw line.
Montclair State returns to action on Wednesday, January 31 as the Red Hawks will host NJAC intra-divisional and local rival William Paterson in a 6:00 pm matchup at Panzer Gym. Richard Stockton is back on the court on Monday, January 29 as they host St. Mary’s (MD) at 6:00 pm