Mahwah, NJ:  The Red Hawks proved to be too much for the Ramapo College women's basketball team as Montclair State posted a 74-58 victory over Ramapo today at the Bradley Center.  Kisandra Ayanbeku (Brockton, MA) led the Red Hawks with 27 points to their 14th win of the year (14-8), eighth in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (8-3).  Ramapo falls to 8-14 overall, 2-9 in the conference.

Ayanbeku shot 10-17 from the field and 7-8 from the free throw line sinking the team high 27 points.  Ayanbeku grabbed nine boards in the win, also a team high.  The Red Hawks combined for 24 field goals on 49 attempts, hitting 49% of their shots.  Jaime Ericson (Flemington, NJ) contributed six of her team's field goals, going 6-8 from the field, including 2-4 from behind the three-point arc, for 20 total points.  Jackie Berry (Tuckerton, NJ) dished out seven assists while Jamilee Pflug (Clark, NJ) and Catherine Cristino (Farmingdale, NJ) each grabbed four steals.

With 12:03 to play in the first half, Ericson hit a jump shot which sparked a 8-4 Red Hawk run to put MSU up 11 points, 27-16, their biggest lead of the half.  The Roadrunners countered with an 11-0 run for the game's third tie, 27-27.  Lindsey Gripenburg (Bloomingdale, NJ) sparked the run with a free throw before rookie Megan Reilly (Morganville, NJ) capped it off with a jump shot with just over three minutes on the clock.  MSU held a slight, 33-29 advantage heading into the intermission.

The Red Hawks quickly opened the second half of play with two quick jump shots to take a 37-29 lead, and never looked back earning their biggest lead with 52 seconds to go in the game when off the steal, Ayanbeku hit a jumper to go up, 71-54 (17). 

Reilly led Ramapo with 20 points going 9-15 while Alexa Ryan (Hazlet, NJ) chipped in nine points of her own.  The Roadrunners shot 38% (22-57) on the day.  Ryan grabbed four steals, Brittany Hoffman (Belford, NJ) contributed four assists, and Danielle Beam (Middletown, NJ) pulled down a high ten boards.

Ramapo returns to action on Monday evening when they host John Jay College at 5:30 PM at the Bradley Center.  MSU takes on NJCU on Wednesday, February 10th at 6:00 PM in Montclair.