Montclair, NJ (1/16/08) - Sophomore forward CATHERINE CRISTINO (Farmingdale, NJ / Colts Neck) scored a career-high 27 points while junior guard MARIANNE MCGOVERN (Fair Lawn, NJ / Paramus Catholic) added 14, including 8-of-10 at the foul line as Montclair State edged local rival William Paterson, 69-66 in NJAC North Women's Basketball action at Panzer Gymnasium on Wednesday evening.

Senior guard JESSICA GARRABRANT (Denville, NJ / Morris Knolls) collected nine points and 14 rebounds for the Red Hawks (9-6, 2-2 NJAC), who have won two straight against its backyard rival and three of its last four overall.

The loss spoiled an outstanding effort from William Paterson junior Asia Johnson (Wildwood, NJ / Wildwood), who put together a double-double with 25 points and 16 rebounds along with five blocked shots, two assists and two steals as the Pioneers fell to 10-4 overall, 2-1 in the North Division of the league. Senior guard Michelle Pellichero (Milltown, NJ / Bishop Ahr) added 21 points for WPU.

Montclair State trailed 49-37 with 9:20 to play as Pellichero connected on a three-pointer, however Montclair State went on a 14-2 run over the next five minutes to take the lead. McGovern connected twice from the free throw line to cap the spurt as MSU went up 52-51 with 5:11 to go. The Pioneers would tie the contest twice more, the final time at 58-58 on a foul shot by Julie Haledjian (Montvale, NJ / Pascack Hills) with 2:19. But on its next possession, Cristino banked in a three-pointer from the top of the key to give the Red Hawks the lead for good.

Johnson cut the deficit to 61-60 with 1:46 left, but Cristino restored the lead to three on the ensuing trip down the floor for MSU. Cristino would added two more free throws with 33 ticks for a 66-61 lead. However, William Paterson would not go away as Johnson scored inside with 13 seconds remaining to make the score 66-63.

Garrabrant countered with two foul shots for a 68-63 MSU advantage with 12 seconds to play. Pellichero connected on an off-balance three-pointer with four seconds to bring WPU within 68-66, however McGovern all but ended the game with a foul shot with :01 left for the final margin.

JESSICA HORAN (West Haverstraw, NY / North Rockland) added 10 points and four assists for MSU, which connected 17-of-21 times at the foul line.  The Red Hawks shot 56 percent (14-of-25) over the final 20 minutes and were 16-of-19 at the foul line in the second half.

Lori Custis (Roselle, NJ / Abraham Clark) and Haledjian each had seven points for the Pioneers, who shot 24-of-71 (34 percent) from the floor in the contest.

Montclair State is now off until next Wednesday, January 23 as the Red Hawks head to the John J. Moore Athletic Center in Jersey City to face the Gothic Knights of New Jersey City University at 6:00 pm. William Paterson will face the same NJCU squad on Saturday, January 19 at home in the WPU Rec Center at 1:00 pm.