Upper Montclair, NJ (2/08/03) - Junior guard Kellie Rice (Willingboro, N.J.) scored a game-high 29 points and dished out seven assists to lead the Cougars past Montclair State University, 83-73, in women's New Jersey Athletic Conference action on Saturday afternoon. With the victory, the Cougars improve to 19-2 overall, 14-0 in the conference, while the Red Hawks, who had their four-game winning streak snapped, drop to 12-8 overall, 7-7 in the NJAC.

The Red Hawks opened the game on a 7-0 run, and extended their lead to as many as 13 points at 22-9 with 10:07 remaining in the first half. The Cougars used a tenacious defense to force 17 first-half turnovers and Rice scored six straight points in the final 30 seconds, including a four-point play, as the Cougars pulled within two points at halftime, 39-37.

Senior center JASMINE BATTS (Carteret, N.J.) and freshman center EBONY ALLEN (Camden, N.J.) combined for 26 first-half points for the Red Hawks.

The Cougars took their first lead of the game, 50-49, on a layup by sophomore forward Jacelyn Stanton (Tinton Falls, N.J.), as the team went on a 26-6 run to break open the game, extending their lead to as many as 17 points, 72-55, with 9:23 remaining. The Red Hawks went on a an 18-5 run of their own to pull within four points at 77-73 with 1:30 remaining, however Rice hit four free throws in the final 42 seconds to seal the Cougar victory.

Rice hit 8-of-14 shots from the field and knocked down all 12 of her free throw attempts. Senior center Jaquana Abdullah (Brooklyn, N.Y.) finished with a double-double, scoring 19 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, while junior forward Shervon James (Clifton, N.J.) added nine points, eight rebounds and three blocks. Senior guard Crystal Gadsden (Queens, N.Y.) handed out eight assists and tied the program record for assists in a career with 444.

For Montclair, Batts finished with a team-high 26 points and 11 rebounds, while Allen added 20 points and five rebounds. Junior guard DYETTE DILLARD (Willingboro, N.J.) also reached double figures, finished with 10 points.