Upper Montclair, NJ (2/01/03) - Freshman forward EBONY ALLEN (Camden, NJ/Woodrow WIlson) scored a game-high 23 points and junior guard DYETTE DILLARD (Willingboro, NJ/Willingboro) added 17 and five assists as Montclair State knocked off Ramapo College, 77-68 in New Jersey Athletic Conference Women's Basketball action at Panzer Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon.

Senior center JASMINE BATTS (Carteret, NJ/Carteret) had 19 points and a game-high 14 rebounds as the Red Hawks (10-7, 6-6 NJAC) won for their third time in their last four games and swept the season series wth the Roadrunners (9-10, 4-8 NJAC). Junior guard Stephanie Pillari (Westwood, NJ/Westwood) scored 22 points for Ramapo.

Montclair State led 32-27 at halftime and built a 50-40 lead with 12:44 left as Allen scored on a layup. However, the Roadrunners chipped away at the deficit and pulled within 68-66 with 1:06 to play as Pillari scored on a layup of her own. But MSU responded as Batts scored on a layup with 42 seconds left and Allen scored a basket to give Montclair a six-point lead with 27 seconds remaining. The Red Hawks then iced the game making five-of-six at the free throw line, inclduing three by ERIN SCHULTZ (West Milford, NJ/West Milford).

Schultz, the fourth Montclair player in double figures, finished with 11 points as MSU outrebounded the Roadrunners, 42-32. Ramapo received 15 points from Katie Arcuri (Staten Island, NY/St. Peter's) and 13 from Janine Cappadona (Atlantic Highlands, NJ/Red Bank Catholic). The Roadrunners, who shot just 39 percent from the field during the game, including just 3-of-17 from three-point range, also had four players in double figures as Melinda DioDonet (Bogota, NJ/Bogota) had 10 points.

Tied at 15-15 with 10 minutes left in the opening period, Arcuri scored six straight points to give the Roadrunners a 21-15 lead with 8:51 remaining. However, Montclair responded with a 17-6 to end the period, including a string of 12 consecutive points. Trailing 25-18 with 7:30 to play Batts made one of two foul shots and Allen sank a short jumper to pull MSU within four. Another Allen jumper made the score 25-24 in favor of Ramapo, but Dillard drained a long three to give the Red Hawks the lead with 4:35 left in the half. Dillard then nailed another three to put MSU up five (30-25) with 1:52 to go and the teams traded baskets as the Red Hawks held a 32-27 advantage at intermission.