Galloway, NJ – Stockton University (13-9, 10-5 NJAC) won a key NJAC contest by a 71-63 score over Montclair State University (13-9, 9-6 NJAC) on Saturday afternoon. Grace Speer (Estell Manor/ACIT) led four Ospreys in double figures with a game-high 25 points and pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds. It was the third straight win for Stockton.
 
Stockton jumped out to a quick early lead with a 20-8 first period. The Ospreys shot 9-19 (47.7%) while holding the Red Hawks to just 25.0% (4-16) in the frame. The second stanza saw the teams match each other with 14 points each as the home squad took a 34-22 lead at the break. Speer tallied 15 of her markers in the first 20 minutes of play.
 
The Red Hawks tightened the score during the third quarter with an 18-8 run to close to within two at 42-40 at the 2:42 mark. Stockton was able to keep the visitors at bay, retaining the lead at 51-47 heading into the final period.
 
Montclair State kept up the pressure, taking their first and only lead of the game with 3:43 remaining in regulation at 57-56, but Stockton responded. Baskets by Speer and Bre Evans (Neptune/Neptune) gave the Ospreys the lead for the final time 60-57. The home squad then sealed the contest the foul line, hitting 11-12 in the final three minutes to seal the 71-63 victory.
 
The win pushed Stockton into a tie for the number three seed for the NJAC Tournament with three games left in the regular season.
 
Evans added 14 points on the day with a career-high nine rebounds and topped all players with six assists. Imene Fathi (Wildwood/Wildwood) and Zemirah Enalls (Barnegat/Barnegat) each tallied 11 points with Enalls also grabbing nine boards. Fathi dished two assists, giving her 300 for her career, becoming just the fourth player in Stockton history to reach that milestone.
 
For Montclair State, Alexis Strollo scored 17 points, with Alyssa Craigwell tallying 16 points and seven rebounds. Isabella Orlando chipped in with 12 markers, with teammate Bella Bruce adding 10 points and a team-high eight rebounds.
 
Stockton will try to extend their winning streak on Wednesday night, when the Ospreys travel to Camden, NJ for a game against Rutgers-Camden. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 pm.