MONTCLAIR, NJ (Feb. 1, 2025) – Senior forward/center Olivia Vero scored a game-high 24 points to lead four Montclair State University players in double figures as the Red Hawks defeated Rutgers University-Camden, 75-49, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference women's basketball game here Saturday afternoon.
 
It was the ninth straight win for Montclair State, which improved to 17-3 overall and 11-2 in the NJAC, sharing the lead with The College of New Jersey. Rutgers-Camden fell to 8-12 overall and 4-9 in the conference.
 
Montclair State has won 11 straight games against Rutgers-Camden and holds a 55-17 lead in the all-time series.
 
Rutgers-Camden led only twice, at 4-2, following a jumper by graduate forward Aiya Underwood, and 6-5 following a pair of foul shots by senior guard Rahzirah Blocker. The Red Hawks scored the next seven points to take the lead for good and held a 26-19 lead after one quarter.
 
The Red Hawks led, 42-29, at halftime, with Vero collecting 17 of those points. Blocker led the Scarlet Raptors at halftime with 10 points and five rebounds.
 
Montclair State led, 52-35, after three quarters. and built its largest lead on a trey by Hughes with 1:22 remaining, leading to the final margin of 75-49.
 
Vero added a game-high 12 rebounds to complete a double-double. Junior guard Alexis Strollo added 13 points for the Red Hawks, while both graduate student guard Sophie Beneventine and junior guard Shannon Hughes added 12 points.
 
Beneventine had a game-high four assists.
 
Rutgers-Camden received 15 points from Blocker, while freshman guard Hope Goodwine collected 14 points. Blocker completed a double-double with 10 rebounds and freshman forward Courtney Edmundo paced the Raptors with 11 boards.
 
The Red Hawks shot 27-for-60 (45.0 percent) from the floor and 14-for-22 (63.6) from the foul line, while Rutgers-Camden went 19-for-62 (30.6) from the floor and 9-for-22 from the line. The Scarlet Raptors held a 42-39 edge off the boards but also made six more turnovers (22-16).
 
Rutgers-Camden returns to action on Wednesday with a 6 p.m. home NJAC game against The College of New Jersey.