Ewing, NJ (2/16/05) - Montclair State University's women's basketball team handed The College of New Jersey just its second loss at home and second loss in conference action as the Red Hawks posted a 54-46 victory over TCNJ in New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) action on Wednesday night.

The Lions drop to 20-4 overall and 14-2 in the league and MSU improves to 14-10 on the year and 8-7 in the NJAC. With the win tonight, the Red Hawks are tied with Rowan University for fourth in the conference standings. MSU will host Kean University on February 19 at 3:00 in an NJAC tilt.

No one reached double figures in points for TCNJ which was led by juniors Tiara Simpkins and Erin Frank with nine points each. Junior center Danica Miller pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds to match her personal best for the second time in her career.

Forwards AMANDA MULLANEY and MICHELLE MADEJ paced the Red Hawks with 11 points each as Madej shot 5 of 7 off the bench. Mullaney also grabbed eight boards, while freshman guard JESSICA GARRABRANT had 12 caroms and seven points.

A three-pointer by junior guard Alexa Shields started off the scoring for the Lions at 17:42 before MSU went on a 7-0 run to take a 7-3 lead at 15:35. TCNJ tied it up (7-7) at 13:44 but the Red Hawks put together a 14-3 spurt to boast an 11-point margin at 5:46 - their biggest of the half.

The Lions were held without a field goal for 6:49 before a lay-up by Frank at 4:08. Both teams remained scoreless for the next 2:53 until MSU's junior forward STEPHANIE MACHIN connected on a jumper with 42 seconds remaining in the half and the Red Hawks took a 25-17 lead into the locker rooms.

TCNJ pulled within three (29-26) at 13:49 in the second half on a trey by Shields after a 9-4 run to start the period, but MSU went on an 18-9 run to lead by as many as 12 (47-35) at 4:36 and the Red Hawks never looked back. MSU out-rebounded the Lions, 42-31, for the game.