Box Score
Senior day insert

Ewing, NJ … The College of New Jersey women's basketball team dropped a 63-49 decision to ninth-ranked Montclair State University on Wednesday night in Packer Hall.

The contest marked the end of the regular season and snapped a seven-game winning streak for the Lions (18-7, 14-4). The Red Hawks moved to 23-2 overall and 17-1 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference and captured their ninth consecutive victory.

Senior Tiffany DeTulio (Colts Neck, NJ/Colts Neck) led TCNJ with 11 points and four rebounds. Classmate Kelly Roddy (Belmar, NJ/St. Rose) netted seven points and grabbed six boards, while junior Kylie O'Donnell (Magnolia, NJ, Sterling) added six points and four rebounds.

Juniors Melissa Tobie (Elizabeth, NJ/Roselle Catholic) and Janitza Aquino (Kearny, NJ/Kearny) each put forth dominant efforts for Montclair State. Tobie finished with a double double, scoring 20 and collecting 10 rebounds. Aquino finished with a game-high 21 points, while senior Nicoisa Henry (Bolingbrook, ILBolingbrook) was strong underneath the glass, pulling down 10 boards.

Both teams played with intensity in the opening half. The difference was Tobie, who dropped in six field goals for 15 points in 17 minutes of play. She also grabbed seven boards and dished out a pair of assists.

Play was even after the first eight minutes, but a three-pointer by Rachael Krauss (Farmingdale, NJ/Colts Neck) gave the Red Hawks a 12-9 lead. MSU surged to a 10-2 run over four minutes to build a 13-point advantage.

TCNJ battled back, however, with a 6-0 run. Sophomore Christina Merlin (North Brunskwick, NJ/Bishop Ahr) converted a pair of three throws before junior Jessica Goldbach (Edison, NJ/John P Stevens) banked in a layup. Roddy then found Merlin underneath and the Lions cut the deficit to seven points.

Tobie hit two foul shots just before the break and Montclair owned a 33-24 lead at the break.

MSU pushed the lead to 15, but a pump fake and short jumper by O'Donnell capped another 6-0 run by the Lions to close the gap to single digits with 10:55 to play. Play remained even over the next seven minutes. The Lions played solid defensively and the Red Hawks ate up clock, looking for quality shots. A three-pointer by sophomore Kayla Ceballos (Brooklyn, NY/Christ the King) with three minutes to play put the game out of reach for the TCNJ.

Shots from behind the arc, typically a strength for the Lions, would not fall. They hit just 3-of-21 from downtown, while MSU made good on 9-of-22 three-point field goal attempts.

With their second-place finish in the league, TCNJ receives a bye in the opening round of the NJAC championship tournament. They host the winner of third and six-seeded teams. William Paterson University assumes the three position and will host Ramapo College on Saturday.

The NJAC semi-final game played in Packer Hall is scheduled for a 7 p.m. start next Tuesday, February 25. The Red Hawks will host the winner of the four and five-seed game.

Note: Prior to the start of the game, four seniors were recognized for their exceptional contributions to the Lions' women's basketball program over the past four years. Tiffany DeTulio, Kelly Roddy, Colleen Duffy, and Liz West were honored before competing in their final regular season game.