Montclair, NJ (12/19/11) – Junior forward Taylor Jeffers (Franklin, NJ / Franklin) collected nine points and 12 rebounds off the bench to pace a balanced Montclair State attack as the Red Hawks posted their fourth straight victory, 70-54 over Frostburg State at the Panzer Athletic Center on Monday evening.

Freshman Melissa Tobie (Elizabeth, NJ / Roselle Catholic) had 12 points while Jaime Ericson (Flemington, NJ / Hunterdon Central) and freshman Janitza Aquino (Kearny, NJ / Kearny) each added 10 as the Red Hawks moved to 6-4 on the season.

Sophomore guard Elaina Hummel (Huntingdon, PA/Southern Huntingdon) and freshman RJ James (Baltimore City, MD / Pikesville) each had 12 points for the Bobcats (3-8), who dropped their third straight contest.

The Red Hawks led virtually the entire game taking the lead for good at the 18:02 mark as Ericson connected on a jumper from the left side to start a seven-point run that ended with Michelle Montagna’s (New Providence, NJ / New Providence) three-point that made the score 9-2 with 17:04 left.

A free throw by James cut the deficit for Frostburg to 13-8 with 10:48 to go however Montclair quickly pushed the lead to 19-8 on an Aquino basket in the paint with just over eight minutes left. Aquino would finish off a fast-break to give the Red Hawks their larges t lead of the half at 30-13 as MSU took a 33-17 advantage into halftime.

In the second half, the Bobcats would get as close 33-21 when Elizabeth Erickson (Bellwood, PA / Bellwood-Antis) hit two from the foul line. Montclair State responded with 15 straight points to put the game out of reach. Tobie had four points in the run while Ericson and Colleen Kelly (Rockaway, NJ / Morris Hills) each had three-pointers as Montclair pushed its lead to 48-21 with 14:41 remaining.

Montagna added nine points for the Red Hawks while Tobie pulled down eight rebounds in addition to two assists and three blocked shots. Kelly tallied dive points and three assists.

Erickson had nine points and six rebounds with Stephanie Straka (Jerome, PA / Conemaugh Township) adding nine points, five rebounds and four assists.

Both teams are now off until after the Christmas holiday. Montclair State heads to Florida for the Land of magic Classic in Daytona Beach. MSU will face Widener University on Thursday, December 29 before taking on Hamilton University the next day. Frostburg State is at Lebanon Valley on December 29th.