Mahwah, NJ: The Ramapo College Roadrunners and the Red Hawks of Montclair State, faced off tonight at the Bradley Center in a New Jersey Athletic Conference women's basketball match-up. The Red Hawks, behind 17 points and 11 rebounds from junior forward Kisandra Ayanbeku (Burlington, MA), defeated Ramapo, 73-57 to improve to 8-4 overall, 3-0 in the NJAC. Ramapo falls to 6-7 overall and 1-2 in the conference.

Sophomore Stephanie Cannizzaro (Pequannock, NJ) started the game on fire sinking 11 of Ramapo's first 12 points in the opening six minutes. Jamilee Pflug (Clark, NJ) countered with eight points and Catherine Cristino (Farmingdale, NJ) and Jaime Ericson (Flemington, NJ) added a jumper and a three-pointer respectively to hold a slight, 13-12 edge over Ramapo. The Red Hawks slowly added to their lead grabbing a double-digit edge at 4:07, when a jump shot from Pflug put the Red Hawks up ten. Jenna Totaro (Secaucus, NJ) and Marianne McGovern (Fair Lawn, NJ) followed with back-to-back threes and Ayanbeku hit a two-point goal with just over two minutes to play to take a 39-25, 14 point advantage. Montclair outscored Ramapo 4-2 in the finals 1:37 to take a 43-27 lead heading into the intermission. Cannizzaro finished the half with a team high 16 points hitting 5-8 from the field, including two three-point baskets. Cannizzaro grabbed four steals while Beth Weinmann (Pompton Plains, NJ) pulled down four rebounds. The team hit a combined nine field goals on 24 attempts (38%) while the Red Hawkd put away 17 baskets on 27 attempts hitting 63% of their shots. Pflug and Ayanbeku each contributed ten points in the half. Ayanbeku pulled down a team high ten boards.

The Roadrunners came within 12 at the start of the second half before a 9-2 run, sparked by Jackie Berry (Tuckerton, NJ), and capped off by Cristino, put the Red Hawks up 19, 52-33, with 15:43 on the clock. The two teams traded mini runs over the next six minutes; Ramapo coming within 14 at 11:44, and Montclair gaining a second 19 point advantage after McGovern capitalized on an and-one play with 10:28 to play. The final ten minutes of the play was much of the same, and Jessica Sartorio (Egg Harbor City, NJ) finished the night with the game's final shot at 00:29 earning the 16 point victory. Montclair combined shooting 11-34 (32%) in the second half while the Roadrunners sunk 13 or their 26 attempts (50%). Ayanbeku led the way for the Red Hawks with seven points and three boards while Cristino contributed six points in the half. Cannizzaro added ten more points in the half shooting 5-9.

Ayanbeku led all Red Hawks with 17 points and 11 rebounds while Pflug and Cristino added 15 and 13 points respectively. Pflug led the way with three steals and four assists. Cannizzaro wrapped up the night with a collegiate high 26 points. She added eight rebounds and five steals in the game. Chardae Moreno (Clifton, NJ) added ten points on the night.

The Roadrunners return to action on Saturday, January 10th when they travel to Kean University for a New Jersey Athletic Conference match-up at 1:00 PM.