Camden, NJ (12/14/02) - The Montclair State University women's basketball team dropped to 5-2 overall and 3-2 in New Jersey Athletic Conference play with today's 77-61 setback at Rutgers-Camden (5-2, 3-2 NJAC). The host Scarlet Raptors used a 26-2 run midway through the first half to overcome a 9-2 deficit en route to defeating the Red Hawks for the fifth consecutive time dating back to 2000. Joy Silver led Rutgers-Camden with 23 points, nine rebounds and six blocks as the host Scarlet Raptors built a 41-24 lead after 20 minutes of play.

Senior guard ERIN SCHULTZ (West Milford, NJ/West Milford) led Montclair in scoring with a career-high 23 points, and tied a 12-year-old school record for most three-point field goals in a single game with six treys. She was a perfect 6-for-6 from long range, and 8-for-9 in all field goal attempts while adding two assists and two steals.

MSU freshman center EBONY ALLEN (Camden, NJ/Woodrow Wilson) supplied 12 points and six rebounds in her first game back in her hometown, while senior forward STEPHANIE CROLEY (Plainfield, NJ/Piscataway) led Montclair with eight rebounds and junior guard VANESSA DeFREITAS (Kearny, NJ/Kearny) paced MSU with six assists. The Red Hawks shot just 35.3 percent from the field for the game and were outrebounded, 50-33, while watching Rutgers-Camden go 23-for-33 from the free throw line.

Montclair State returns to action on Saturday, December 28th at the Surf n' Slam Tournament in San Diego, CA. The Red Hawks will face Wisconsin Whitewater in the opening round of the eight-team tournament held at Point Loma Nazarene University. MSU will resume their NJAC schedule on Saturday, January 11, 2003 when they host The College of New Jersey at Panzer Gymansium at 2:00 pm.