Montclair, NJ (02/19/05) – Senior guard Kami Bernardo and junior guard Sheemea Carr each tallied 17 points as fifth-seeded Rowan University defeated fourth-seeded Montclair State University, 69-59, in the first round of the 2005 New Jersey Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Tournament tonight at MSU's Panzer Gymnasium.

Rowan, which will play at No. 1 seed The College of New Jersey on Thursday night in an NJAC semifinal, improved to 15-10 overall this season in avenging two regular-season losses to Montclair, which dropped to 15-11 on the year.

Rowan shot 14-of-25 from the field in the first half (21-of-42 overall) in gaining a 33-27 halftime advantage, as the teams traded leads nine times.

The Profs then went on a 12-1 run to start the second half, taking a 45-28 lead with 13:37 left, and stayed in front the rest of the way in besting Montclair in NJAC Tournament play for the fourth straight time dating back to 1996.

Rowan was 20-of-27 from the free throw line in the final 20 minutes, and 23-of-31 for the game. The Profs also out-rebounded the Red Hawks on the night, 41-26, grabbing 34 caroms alone off the defensive glass, and shot 4-of-5 from three-point field goal range, with Bernardo connecting on all three of her attempts from long range while also notching a team-high four steals.

MSU freshman guard JESSICA GARRABRANT was 9-of-13 from the field and led all players with 18 points while also recording five rebounds and three assists, while junior forward AMANDA MULLANEY scored 17 points and added five rebounds and two steals.

Rowan senior forward Stephanie Finke led all players with 12 rebounds and scored nine points, while senior guard Jaime McCormack recorded 14 points and went a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line.