Montclair, NJ (1/13/07) – Junior guard JESSICA HORAN (West Haverstraw, NY/North Rockland) scored 11 of her 13 points in the second half as Montclair State overcame an early 16-point deficit en route to a 66-58 victory over New Jersey City University in New Jersey Athletic Conference Women's Basketball action at Panzer Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon.

Senior FERIN CATLETT (Lawnside, NJ/Haddon Heights) and junior CYNTHIA WARRINGTON (Villas, NJ/Lower Cape May Regional) each added 11 points as the Red Hawks rallied from a 17-1 deficit midway through the first half to even their record on the year at 7-7 overall, 3-1 in the NJAC. MSU also improved to 38-3 against the Gothic Knights all-time as it posted its seventh straight win over NJCU.

 The loss proved to be a bittersweet day for NJCU guard Latrese McNair (Elizabeth, NJ/Elizabeth), who poured in a career-high 31 points, including the 1,000th of her career becoming the eighth female in school history reach the millennium mark. McNair, who moved into seventh-place on the Gothic Knight scoring list (1,023 points), also had seven steals as the NCAA Division III leader upped her season total to 63.

NJCU would scored the first six points of the game and after a Montclair free throw, Carolina Garcia (Franklin Park, NJ/Franklin) drained a three-pointer to spark an 11-0 run that she capped off with a short jumper as the Gothic Knights led 16-1 with 11:55 to play. Meanwhile MSU struggled from the field missing its first eight shots until Horan hit from 15-feet with 11:32 left. The bucket got Montclair going as it outscored NJCU 22-10 the rest of the half.

McNair reached her milestone with nine minutes remaining as she stole the ball and drove the length of the court for a layup to make the score 21-6. The Red Hawks then chipped away, cutting the lead to 23-15 with 4:46 to go as MEGHAN KELLEY (Newtown, CT/Newtown) buried a three-point from the right side. Kelly Wilson (Jersey City, NJ/Hudson County Prep) restored the NJCU lead to 27-15 with 3:11 before half, but Montclair State closed out the period with a 8-0 run capped by Kelley's two foul shots as the Red Hawks found themselves down only 27-23 at intermission.

In the second half, a steal and layup by McNair increased the Gothic Knight advantage to 31-23 with 18:13 remaining, however MSU embarked on a 10-1 run over the next three minutes to take its first lead. Warrington had four points and Horan sank a three as the Red Hawks went in front 33-32 with 14:57 left.

NJCU would regain the lead twice more, the final time coming on a layup by Arnese Goodman (Jersey City, NJ/Lincoln) for a 37-35 advantage. Again, Montclair used a huge run, this one a 17-2 spurt that would eventually create a 29-point swing with 6:22 to play. JESSICA GARRABRANT (Denville, NJ/Morris Knolls) got the ball rolling with a jumper and two free throws as MSU moved in front 39-37. Warrington would later add a free throw and Horan's second three-pointer pushed the lead to double digits at 49-39 with 7:43 to play. MARIANNE MCGOVERN (Fair Lawn, NJ/Paramus Catholic) capped the run with a free throw and the Red Hawks would eventually grow the lead to as many as 15 on two occasions.

Garrabrant finished with 10 points, nine rebounds and four assists for Montclair State, which played without leading scorer STEPHANIE MACHIN (New Providence, NJ/New Providence). Catlett added seven rebounds, four assists and two blocks as MSU, after shooting just 26 percent (8-of-3) in the first half, connected on 52 percent (14-of-27) over the final 20 minutes. Freshman CATHERINE CRISTINO (Farmingdale, NJ/Colts Neck) had seven points.

Tiffany Boyd (Jersey City, NJ/Lincoln) finished with eight points, a game-high 10 rebounds and three blocked shots. Boyd entered the game as the No. 2 shot blocker in Division III. Wilson had eight points and eight rebounds while Goodman added four, nine rebounds and six assists.

Montclair State returns to action on Wednesday, January 17 as the Red Hawks host Ramapo College at 6:00 pm in the opening game of a NJAC twinbill. NJCU will take to the court on Monday, January 15 as they travel to St. Joseph's (Brooklyn) for a 7:30 pm tipoff.