Montclair State Defeats Bearcats, 73-49, at Bon Appetit NWC Tipoff Classic

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

PORTLAND, ORE. -- Janitza Aquino scored 22 points to lead Montclair State University (N.J.) to a 73-49 victory over Willamette University on Saturday, Nov. 15, in the first round of the Bon Appetit NWC Tipoff Classic at the Pamplin Sports Center on the campus of Lewis & Clark College. Montclair State is 1-0 on the season and Willamette is 0-1.

Last year, Montclair State achieved a 28-3 record and reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA Division III National Tournament. This year, the Red Hawks are ranked #10 in the USA Today Division III Poll and #11 in the D3hoops.com Top 25.

For Willamette, Kylie Towry (Fr., G, Medford, OR/South Medford HS), Racyne Parker (Fr., Klamath Falls, OR/Henley HS) and Daena Mau (Sr., G, Aiea, HI/Punahou School) each scored nine points. Jojo DeLong (Sr., PG, Santa Clarita, CA/Canyon HS) contributed eight points.

DeLong and Katie Kalugin (Sr., G, Woodburn, OR/Woodburn HS) both grabbed six rebounds for the Bearcats.

Aquino was joined in double figures by Melissa Tobie, who scored 15 points for the Red Hawks. Tobie also grabbed a team-high six rebounds.

Montclair State scored the first five points of the game and led 10-2 with 14:46 left in the first half. Willamette answered with a 13-5 run over the next four minutes to take a 16-15 lead. Towry hit two 3-pointers and Savanna Steele (So., PG, West Richland, WA/Hanford HS) added one 3-pointer during the run.

The Red Hawks countered with a 10-1 run for a 25-17 advantage with 7:31 on the clock. Aquino scored eight of the 10 points.

A bit later, Aquino connected on a 3-point shot to give the MSU a 32-22 lead. The Red Hawks scored six of the final seven points in the half to take a 38-23 margin into the intermission.

Three baskets by Tobie helped Montclair State take charge of the game with a 10-2 run to start the second half. The Red Hawks owned a 48-25 advantage with 15:40 remaining.

Towry sank a 3-pointer for the game's next basket at the 14:33 mark, and the Bearcats eventually cut the lead to 51-32 on a jumper by Mau with 12:07 to go. Willamette never got closer, as the Red Hawks shot 50% in the second half to close out the win.

For the game, MSU was 26 of 55 (47.3%) from the field, including 5 of 16 (31.3%) on 3-pointers. The Red Hawks hit 16 of 21 free throws (76.2%) and registered a 42-33 rebounding edge. Willamette shot 30.6% on field goals (15 of 49) and made 6 of 21 three-pointers (28.6%).

Willamette will take on Schreiner University (Texas) in the second round of the Bon Appetit NWC Tipoff Classic on Sunday, Nov. 16. Game time is set for 12 p.m. (PST) at Lewis & Clark. Schreiner lost to the Pioneers, 51-44, in the other first round game on Saturday.