MONTCLAIR, N.J. – The TCNJ women's basketball team overcame a slow offensive start and trailed by as few as six in the fourth quarter, but the Lions couldn't overcome Montclair State on Saturday afternoon, losing 53-39.
 
The offensive slow start for TCNJ was softened by the team's strong defensive performance in the first quarter. While TCNJ only shot 20 percent (3-for-15) in the first quarter, the Lions held Montclair to just 28.6 percent (4-for-14). MSU took a 9-6 lead at the end of the quarter.
 
In the second quarter, TCNJ didn't get its first points for more than five minutes. Even so, the strong TCNJ defensive effort meant that Jezlyn Cross's jumper from Emily Toy put the Lions behind, 14-8. The Lions trailed by as many as 10 in the second quarter, but a late three pointer by Nina Branchizio and a layup from Sydney Blum at the buzzer had the Lions' deficit at 26-18 at the half.
 
The TCNJ offense lit up in the third quarter, fueled primarily by Julia Setaro. She scored the first seven points in a 9-0 TCNJ run. After a three pointer and a layup, Setaro scored on a jumper from Sydney Blum to make it 33-30 Montclair with 1:35 left in the period. Mollie Brueggemeier followed with a driving layup of her own, and the Lions found themselves down by just a point.
 
Montclair extended the lead back to nine early in the fourth, but a Morgan Heller three pointer and layup had it at 43-37 with 6:12 left. Heller was the team's leading scorer, netting 11 points of 5-of-9 shooting. She also finished with six rebounds, one behind Blum for the team lead. TCNJ outrebounded Montclair, 37-33.
 
That was as close as TCNJ would get, however, as Montclair scored the game's next 10 points to push its lead well into double digits.
 
The Lions assisted on 14 of their 17 made baskets, led by Setaro's four. TCNJ also outscored Montclair, 14-6, in points off turnovers.
 
The Lions host Rutgers-Camden on Wednesday at 6 p.m.