MONTCLAIR, N.J. – #7 nationally ranked Montclair State University started the First Round of the 2015 NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championships on a 21-4 run and never looked back as they defeated Regis College 78-45 on Friday night at the Panzer Athletic Center.
The win propels the Red Hawks to 27-1 and a date with Stevenson University during the Second Round of the Tournament tomorrow at 6:00 p.m. The loss, which ended the Pride's season for the third straight year, drops the squad to 22-6, 18-0 NECC. It was the fourth straight 20-win season for the Crimson and Gold, who earned won their third consecutive New England Collegiate Conference Championship last weekend.
After trading baskets to start the game, Montclair sprinted to a double-digit lead just four minutes in as the sister combo of Melissa and Kate Tobie (Elizabeth, N.J.) combined for eight points in the span. The Red Hawks used a 21-4 run to begin the game and built a sizeable advantage over the visitors. Alyssa Lanpher (Princeton, Mass.) stopped the streak by the hosts when she converted a free throw.
MSU paced the remainder of the period, but the Pride went on a 10-2 run that was started by a Teresa Busiek (Alrington, Mass.) free throw during the waning minuets of the half before the Red Haws scored the final four points of the period.
Melisa Tobie (Elizabeth, N.J.) recorded 18 first half points on a perfect 7-for-7 from the flow with five rebounds. Teammates Janitza Aquino (Kearny, N.J.) and Kate Tobie each contributed with six points as Aquino also added three assists. For Regis, rookie Brittany Stone tallied 10 points and seven boards.
The second half proved to be much of the same as Coach Harvey used her entire team, as all but two finished with double digit minute totals. With just over 10 minutes to go, the Red Hawks pushed out to their widest margin of the game, 74-34 on back-to-back free throw from sophomore Sage Bennett.
Stone led the Pride offense by scoring a team-high 18 points and snagging 10 rebounds while Bradley also scored in double-figures with 11 points. Montclair St. forward Melissa Tobie was perfect from the field (9-of-9) which amounted to a game-high 22 points and she also secured 10 rebounds. Guard Janitza Aquino added 14 points while dishing out five assists. Rounding out the scoring for the Red Hawks was forward Sage Bennett (Sicklerville, N.J.) who scored 10 points, grabbed four rebounds and made two steals.
Release courtesy of Montclair State University Sports Information