Montclair, NJ (2/11/04) - Senior center Adrienne Warner (Sparta, NJ/Sparta) scored 16 points to lead four players in double figures as The College of New Jersey moved into first-place in the New Jersey Athletic Conference Blue Division with a 70-59 victory over Montclair State in Division III Women's Basketball action at Panzer Gymnasium on Wednesday evening.

Alexa Shields (Oakhurst, NJ/Wall) added 13 points and Liz Martin (Shamong, NJ/Shawnee) 12 and seven rebounds as the Lions (12-8, 8-3 NJAC) won their second straight and defeated the Red Hawks (18-4, 7-3 NJAC) for the second time this season. The winner of the NJAC Blue Division receives a first-round bye in the conference tournament which begins on Monday, February 23.

Freshman center STEPHANIE MACHIN (New Providence, NJ/New Providence) had 16 points and nine rebounds for MSU, which saw its eight-game winning streak snapped as Montclair fell for the first time since January 17. The Red Hawks also suffered their first home loss this season.

TCNJ used an 11-2 run midway through the first half to build an 11-point advantage. Leading 12-10, Erin Frank (Toms River, NJ/Toms River East) and Machin traded baskets before the Lions scored the next nine points. Warner hit consecutive jumpers and Martin added two free throws before Sheilds capped the spurt with a three-pointer to make the score 23-12 with 4:55 left in the half. Montclair State, which struggled shooting in the first half (25 percent, 10-of-39) responded with eight straight points to cut the deficit to three with 1:51 to play as DYETTE DILLARD (Willingboro, NJ/Willingboro) sank a layup for a 23-20 TCNJ lead. But Shields drained another three and Danica Miller (Rutherford, NJ/Rutherford) followed with a jumper to restore the lead to eight. Deana Cuozzo (Port Reading, NJ/Bishop Ahr) then hit a three at the buzzer to give New Jersey a 32-22 halftime lead. In the second half,

TCNJ burst out of the gate going on a 26-8 run to in the first nine minutes to put the game away. Warner and Theresa DiMedio (Berlin, NJ/Camden Catholic) each had eight in the span and Shields scored from in close to give the Lions a 58-30 lead with 11:28 left. The Red Hawks had one last run as it pulled within 65-53 as Machin converted on the break with 3:08 remaining, however, Warner responded with a layup and Shields added two foul shots with 49 seconds to go to seal the game for TCNJ.

DiMedio had 10 points, eight rebounds and five assists for the Lions, who also got nine rebounds from Warner.

Dillard finished with 12 points and eight rebounds for Montclair State, which finished 21-of-71 (29 percent) from the floor in the game. MSU shot just 31 percent (42-of-134) from the field in the two losses to the Lions this year. EBONY ALLEN (Camden, NJ/Woodrow Wilson) had six points and a game-high 10 rebounds while AMANDA MULLANEY (Brooklyn, NY/Bishop Ford) collected 10 points and five rebounds.