Box Score

MONTCLAIR, N.J. – The nationally-ranked Montclair State University women's basketball team scored the first seven points of the game, grabbed a 44-24 halftime lead and went on to defeat Rutgers University-Camden, 79-60, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference game here Saturday.
 
The Red Hawks, ranked No. 5 and 6 in the two national Division III polls, improve to 14-0 overall and 6-0 in the NJAC with their 17th straight win over the Scarlet Raptors. They lead the all-time series, 37-15.
 
The Scarlet Raptors fall to 4-10 overall and 0-7 in the NJAC.
 
Senior guard Janitza Aquino (Kearny, NJ/Kearny) scored 14 points and senior forward/guard Melissa Tobie (Elizabeth, NJ/Roselle Catholic) added 11 to give the Red Hawks their 20-point halftime lead. Montclair State shot 17-for-35 (48.6 percent) from the floor in the opening half, while holding Rutgers-Camden to 9-for-28 (32.1) shooting.
 
By the end of the game, the Red Hawks had placed nine players in the scoring column, led by 21 points from Aquino. Freshman guard Kate Tobie (Elizabeth, NJ/Roselle Catholic) and sophomore forward Sage Bennett (Sicklerville, NJ/Winslow Township) both added 12 points, Melissa Tobie finished with 11 and junior guard Kayla Ceballos (Brooklyn, NY/Christ the King) added 10.
 
Melissa Tobie added five assists and five steals.
 
For the Scarlet Raptors, senior guard Alex Gravinese (Audubon, NJ/Audubon) collected 15 points, all on 5-for-9 shooting from three-point range. Junior guard Kamari Talley (Camden, NJ/Creative Arts) notched 13 points and barely missed a double-double, finishing with nine rebounds.
 
Freshman forward Michelle Obasi (Camden, NJ/Camden Catholic) finished with 11 points and eight rebounds.
 
Montclair State shot 31-for-72 (43.1) for the game, while Rutgers-Camden shot only 20-for-58 (34.5) and committed 10 more turnovers (23-13). The Red Hawks held a slim 43-42 edge off the boards.
 
Rutgers-Camden returns to action Wednesday when it hosts New Jersey City University in a 6 p.m. NJAC game.