Montclair, N.J. (January 9, 2008) – The Montclair State women's basketball rode a strong first half en route to a 60-53 New Jersey Athletic Conference win over Rutgers-Newark.

The Red Hawks move to 8-5 overall and 1-1 in the NJAC as Rutgers-Newark falls to 10-3, 0-2 in conference.

Montclair State opened the contest with 16 of the first 20 points, capped off with a jumper by AMY BONK. A Stephanie Ross layup trimmed the Scarlet Raptor deficit to six at 25-19 with 5:05 remaining in the first half, but Montclair State finished the period off with eight straight points to build a 33-19 half time advantage.

CATHERINE CRISTINO tallied a team-best 10 points in the opening half, as Bonk and JESSICA GARRABRANT added six.
After a Cristino jumper extended the lead to 16, Rutgers-Newark embarked on a 19-4 run to get the gap to one with 9:56 left in the frame. Montclair would score the next seven markers before Sabrina Sanchez hit a three with 4:43 left to make it a one-possession game 50-48.  The visitors would be unable to get an closer, as a pair of free throws from Bonk sealed the game.

Cristino paced the Red Hawks with 18 points, while Garrabrant and Maryann McGovern combined for 22. JACKIE BERRY recorded seven boards and seven assists as MSU forced 25 Scarlet Raider turnovers. Stephanie Ross tallied 13 points while Nerlande Nicolas had 10 for Rutgers-Newark.