Upper Montclair, NJ - Junior center JASMINE BATTS (Carteret, NJ/Carteret) scored 26 points and grabbed 14 rebounds as Montclair State defeated Rutgers-Newark, 79-45 in New Jersey Athletic Conference women's basketball action at Panzer Gymnasium this evening.

Batts scored 16 in the first half as the Red Hawks (2-1) won their first game at home under new head coach Jamie Hoffman. NYDIA CUBERO (Perth Amboy, NJ/Perth Amboy) finished with 16 points for the Scarlet Raiders (1-1, 0-1 NJAC), who committed 36 turnovers in the game and were held to just 12 total field goals in the contest.

Montclair State broke open a one-point game midway through the first half with 17-2 run. KATHY BARBERI (Whitestone, NY/Francis Lewis) began the spurt with five straight point on a layup and three-pointer. Batts added a jumper for an 18-10 and after a basket by Cubero, Batts converted a three-point play for a 21-10 MSU advantage with 6:54 left in the half. ERIN SCHULTZ (West Milford, NJ/West Milford) then sandwiched a layup and a three-pointer around a basket by STEPHANIE CROLEY (Piscataway, NJ/Piscataway) to give the Red Hawks a 28-12 lead with just over five minute remaining in the half. Montclair State led 35-25 at the intermission.

STEPHANIE ELLERBE (Pennsauken, NJ/Pennsauken) added 14 points and seven rebounds off the bench for the Red Hawks while Croley added eight points and 10 rebounds. RITA ABATEMARCO (Manchester, NJ/Manchester) had 10 points and seven boards for Rutgers-Newark, who shot just 12-of-44 from the field (27.3 percent) in the game.