STOCKTON OUSTED FROM NJAC TOURNEY, 76-67

Che'Na Thompson

Boxscore

Richard Stockton (15-12) was eliminated from the NJAC Tournament with a 76-67 defeat to Montclair State (19-7). All five Osprey starters reached double figures and three recorded double-doubles, but their efforts were not enough to overcome the Red Hawks.

Che’Na Thompson (Salem/Salem) scored a team-high 14 points and grabbed 10 rebounds while LaTonya Oliver (West Berlin/Overbrook) finished with 13 points and 12 boards. Aliyah Nelson (Pleasantville/St. Joseph) scored 12 markers for the Ospreys.

Lauren Alwan (Winslow/Timber Creek) tallied 10 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Brittany Muniz (Cherry Hill/CH East) also tossed in 10 points for Stockton, who out-rebounded Montclair State 53-37 but committed 20 turnovers and shot just 2-14 from three-point range.

Stockton fell behind 13-6 early and trailed until late in the half when Oliver made three baskets during a 10-3 run that gave the Ospreys a slim 29-27 lead with three minutes left in the period. Montclair fought back and took a 34-33 edge at intermission. Thompson scored all 14 of her points before the break.

The Red Hawks got off to a fast start in the second half and opened up a 44-35 lead. Stockton responded again, this time behind five points apiece from Nelson and Alwan during a 12-2 spurt that put the Ospreys back on top, 47-46.

Stockton’s final lead came at 50-49 on a free throw by Alwan with 11:39 to play. Montclair then reeled off seven consecutive points in what proved to be the key segment of the game. The Ospreys could not get closer than four points over the last 10 minutes as the Red Hawks protected their lead and knocked Stockton out of the NJAC Tournament 76-67.

Melissa Tobie led Montclair State with a game-high 20 points and 12 rebounds. Jaime Ericson scored 18 points followed by Theresa Towns with 17 points.

Stockton now will await a possible invitation to the ECAC Metro Tournament when the ECAC brackets are announced on February 27.