Montclair, NJ... Eleventh-ranked Montclair State University used a 10-0 run late in the first half to set themselves up for a 64-45 win over The College of New Jersey women's basketball team on Saturday.
 
The Red Hawks held a 28-17 and then scored those 10 straight points in the final five minutes of the period to gain some separation from the Lions. Junior Angelica Esposito (Lincroft, NJ/St. John Vianney) sank a 3-pointer in the closing seconds of the half to pull TCNJ to within 38-20 at the break.
 
The hosts maintained a double-figure advantage throughout the second half, with TCNJ's best spurt coming in the latter stages of the period. The Lions put together a modest 9-1 run with Esposito and freshman Cindy Napolitano (Wall, NJ/St. Rose) each knocking down a 3-pointer, while senior Kelly Coughlin (Trumbull, CT/Trumbull) converted on a conventional three-point play.
 
The Lions are now an even 9-9 on the season and 4-7 in New Jersey Athletic Conference action. The hosts improved to 17-1 and 10-1 against league opponents.
 
Esposito hit 4-of-8 from 3-point range for the game and led the Lions with 13 points.
 
Coughlin finished with nine points and made one shot from behind the 3-point arc, which moved her into fifth place on the program's career list for 3-pointers made with 125.
 
Senior Kylie O'Donnell (Magnolia, NJ/Sterling) had a balanced game with six points, six rebounds and four assists. Those four assists raised her career total to 248, moving her into ninth place on the program's all-time list.
 
Junior Jess Lynch (Sandy Hook, CT/Newtown) grabbed five boards and added four points and freshman Nikki Schott (Washington, NJ/Warren Hills) topped the Lions with seven rebounds.
 
The Lions face another tough road game when they head to Richard Stockton College to take on the Ospreys at 6 p.m. Richard Stockton (14-4, 10-1 NJAC) is tied with Montclair State for first place in the conference standings.