ANNVILLE, Penn. – The #5 Montclair State Red Hawks jumped to a quick 10-0 start and never looked back, defeating the Regis College women's basketball team, 87-47 in the NCAA First Round at Lebanon Valley College. The Red Hawks, who improve to 28-0 with the win, advance to tomorrow's second round game and will face Lebanon Valley at 6:00 p.m.
Claire Ramonas (Portland, Maine) led the way for the Pride, who close out their season with an impressive 23-5 record. Ramonas scored 17 points on 8-for-9 shooting, while she also added seven rebounds, three assists, and one steal.
After trailing early in the half, Regis did its best to claw back, cutting the lead to as little as eight points on several occasions. Sabree Rodriguez (Brockton, Mass.) knocked down back-to-back free throws to make the score 23-15 with 9:15 left in the opening half, but the Red Hawks responded with a 27-10 run to close out the half, as they entered the locker room with a 50-25 lead.
Montclair State had three players in double-figures in the first half, as Janitza Aquino (Kearny, N.J.) had 12 points, while Shalette Brown (Somersett, N.J.) and Melissa Tobie (Elizabeth, N.J.) each chipped in with ten.
The second half saw the Red Hawks continue their hot shooting, going 15-for-32 from the field to build upon their lead.
The Pride were able to string together a nice 14-4 run over the span of seven minutes in the second half, but once again the Red Hawks were able to close out an impressive run of their own, outscoring the Crimson & Gold, 22-5 down the stretch for the 87-47 victory.
Emilee Marro (Bedford, N.H.) and Monet Lowe (Framingham, Mass.) each notched nine points for the Pride. Marro added four steals and three rebounds, while Lowe grabbed four rebounds, two blocks, and an assist. Rodriguez pitched in with seven points, three rebounds, two steals, and one block.
Tobie would finish with 17 points, six rebounds, four steals, four blocks, and two assists to lead the way for the Red Hawks. Brown had 16 points, five rebounds, three steals, an assist, and one block in the victory. Aquino and Taylor Jeffers (Franklin Township, N.J.) would also combine for 28 points for Montclair State.