Montclair, NJ (1/28/06) – Junior forward STEPHANIE MACHIN scored 19 points and pulled down six rebounds as Montclair State won its fifth straight and swept the season series from Rutgers-Newark with a 62-43 victory at Panzer Gymnasium in NJAC Women's Basketball action on Saturday afternoon.

FERIN CATLETT had 10 points, eight rebounds and a pair of blocked shots as the Red Hawks improved to 12-6 overall and remained in a tie for first place, upping their NJAC mark to 10-2.

Nerlande Nicolas had 14 points, five assists and five steals for Rutgers-Newark, which never led in the game and lost to MSU for the second time this season. The Red Hawks recorded a 54-49 win in Newark back on December 3.

Montclair State jumped out to an early 8-0 lead as Machin scored four points and MICHELLE MADEJ and CYNTHIA WARRINGTON added baskets in the first 3:29 of the game. Rutgers-Newark would cut the lead to 16-14 over the next five minutes, pulling within two on Toni Roselli's jumper. But Montclair State would go on a 14-2 run over the next six minutes to bulid a 14-point bulge.

Madej began a 9-0 run within the spurt as she had four points and Machin three to boost the MSU lead to 25-14. Chrystal Anderson got a basket back for the Raiders, however Catlett scored on a layup and JESSICA HORAN drained a long three-pointer to give the Red Hawks a 30-16 lead with 4:29 left before intermission.

MSU led 37-21 at the break as Machin scored 15 points hitting all seven of her attempts as the Red Hawks were 14-of-26 (54 percent) from the field.

In the second half, Roselli's basket cut the lead to 39-27, but that would be as close as the Raiders would get the rest of the way. AMANDA MULLANEY hit a short jumper and Madej got a basket to restore the lead to 43-27 with 14:35 to play.

JESSICA GARRABRANT had eight rebounds and six assists for the Red Hawks while MEGHAN KELLEY had five points. The Red Hawks shot 50 percent for the game (23-of-46).

Eni Fageyinbo had nine points and seven rebounds while Anderson added eight points and seven boards. The Raiders struggled from the field connecting on just 16-of-54 attempts (30 percent), including identical 8-of-27 marks each period. Roselli also added eight points.

Montclair State returns to action on Monday, January 30 as the Red Hawks host Hunter College at 7:00 pm in their final non-conference game of the season. Rutgers-Newark will host William Paterson on Wednesday, February 1 at home beginning at 5:30 pm.