Ewing, NJ (1/14/04) - The Montclair State women's basketball team dropped its first New Jersey Athletic Conference game of the season tonight, 73-60, at The College of New Jersey. The loss leaves the Red Hawks at 10-2 overall and 2-1 in NJAC play, while the host Lions improve to 7-5 on the season and 4-0 in the conference.

Sophomore forward EBONY ALLEN (Camden, NJ/Woodrow Wilson) led Montclair State with 18 points, while senior guard VANESSA DEFREITAS (Kearny, NJ/Kearny) scored 12 points. Freshman center STEPHANIE MACHIN (New Providence, NJ/New Providence) collected 10 rebounds and added nine points for MSU, which closed to within 56-50 with just under four minutes remaining in regulation before TCNJ went on an 8-1 run to effectively end matters. Lions senior Liz Martin (Shamong, NJ/Shawnee) paced all players with 20 points and 13 rebounds.

The Red Hawks return to NJAC action on Saturday, Jan. 17, at Rowan University.