Atlanta, GA (11/17/07) – Senior JESSICA GARRABRANT (Denville, NJ / Morris Knolls) posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, but host Emory University used a key spurt in the second half to hold off the Red Hawks in a 55-54 victory over MSU in the championship game of the Emory Tip-Off Tournament on Saturday evening.

Sophomore CATHERINE CRISTINO (Farmingdale, NJ / Colt Neck) had 11 points and four rebounds for Montclair State, which fell to 1-1 on the season.

The Red Hawks led 26-23 at halftime thanks to seven points in the opening period from Cristino and four points apiece from Garrabrant and junior AMY BONK (Edison, NJ / JP Stevens).

In the second half, Cristino put the Red Hawks up 33-27 with 14:23 with a layup and Montclair maintained the lead until 10:21 to go when LeShondra Lillard sank a three-pointer to put Emory up 36-35. MSU would regain the lead one last time at 42-40 on a layup by JACKIE BERRY (Tuckerton, NJ / Pinelands Regional), however Erica Kaplan connected from behind the arc to put Emory in front for good and later hit another three to make the score 53-46 with 2:52 left.

But Montclair State did not go away, cutting the lead back to 53-52 with 1:11 left on a free throw by Berry. Kaplan answered for Emory with a layup with 20 seconds. Berry made it a one-point game again with a basket at seven seconds, but Emory was able to hang on for the win.

Berry finished with 10 points and two assists as Montclair placed three players in double figures. JESSICA HORAN (West Haverstraw, NY/North Rockland) added eight points while junior MARIANNE MCGOVERN (Fair Lawn, NJ / Paramus Catholic) had seven and two assists.

Montclair State is now off until Saturday, November 24 when the Red Hawks face Arcadia in the Red Hawk-Pioneer Classic at the WPU Rec Center in Wayne, NJ at 1:00 pm. William Paterson takes on Union College (NY) in the other game on Saturday before the scene shifts to Panzer Gymnasium on Sunday, November 25 for two games.