Montclair, NJ: Senior center
Danielle Beam's (Middletown, NJ / Middletown) rebound and follow-up basket after two missed free throws with 14 seconds sealed the victory as Ramapo held off Montclair State, 52-48 in a New Jersey Athletic Conference North Division women's basketball contest at the Panzer Athletic Center on Thursday evening.
The Roadrunners (8-4, 1-2 NJAC) were led by sophomore guard
Alexa Ryan (Hazlet, NJ / Raritan) who tallied 13 points, including several key free throws down the stretch.
The Red Hawks rally was led by junior guard Jaime Ericson (Flemington, NJ / Hunterdon Central), who finished with 14 points and nine rebounds.
A three-pointer by Ericson with 4:15 got MSU to 42-39 and the Ramapo lead was maintained between 3-5 points until the closing minute. Ryan's foul shot with 61 seconds remaining made the score 47-42. A jumper and driving layup by Michelle Montagna (New Providence, NJ / New Providence) sandwiched a free throw by
Faith Flannery (Keansburg, NJ / Keansburg) cut the lead to 48-46 with 33 seconds showing.
Ryan was fouled on the ensuing inbound, but missed both free-throw attempts giving Montclair State a chance with 28 seconds. Ericson misfired from the right side however Colleen Kelley (Rockaway, NJ / Morris Hills) got the rebound and appeared to put the tying basket in. But Kelly was called for traveling.
Flannery went to the line for two attempts, missing both however Beam was there for the putback.
Following a low-scoring first half in which Montclair State led 19-18, Ramapo put the first nine points on the board in the second period building a 27-19 advantage with 14:43 left. Ryan had the big basket, a three-pointer from the left side. The Roadrunner held their biggest lead at 38-28 on a jumper by Lindsey Grippenburg (Bloomingdale, NJ / Butler).
Grippenburg had 11 points with Beam netting eight along with a game-high 12 rebounds. Senior forward Kisandra Ayanbeku (Brockton, MA / Randolph) posted a double-double for Montclair with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Sophomore Taylor Jeffers (Franklin Township, NJ / Franklin) added 11 points.
Montclair State travels to Union, NJ to face No. 8 Kean University at 1:00 pm on Saturday, January 8. Ramapo is off until Monday, January 10 when it hosts FDU-Florham at the Bradley Center in Mahwah, NJ.
