New York, NY (12/9/09) - Despite 19 points from senior CATHERINE CRISTINO (Farmingdale, NJ / Colts Neck) and 17 points and 14 rebounds from junior KISANDRA AYANBEKU (Brockton, MA / Randolph), the Montclair State women's basketball suffered its third straight loss as the Red Hawks fell at Baruch College on Wednesday evening, 76-63.

The loss dropped MSU back to the .500 mark at 4-4 overall.

Christina Kelley and Lorin Clarke got the Bearcats off to a flying start combining for four three-pointers as Baruch jumped out to a 17-6 lead 4:59 into the contest. From there the Bearcats consistently led by double-digits and were up by as much as 20 points (63-43) with 10:41 remaining.

The Red Hawks rallied with a 12-2 run in the next three minutes to cut the advantage to 65-55. JAMILEE PFLUG (Clark, NJ / Arthur L. Johnson) scored all six of her points during the run and DEVIN FEENEY (Whippany, NJ / Whippany Park) hit a three-pointer to get the visiting Red Hawks back into contention.

Baruch responded with the next seven points and brought their lead back up to 72-55 with three minutes left.

Montclair State made one last run with back-to-back 3-pointers by RHONDA SHARIF (Cliffside Park, NJ / Cliffside Park) and Ayanbeku to get as close as 10 points (73-63) again, but Megan Bouwens closed out the Baruch victory with a free throw and lay up in the final minute for the 76-63 victory.

Bouwens (17 points, 11 rebounds), Christina Kelly (15 points, 10 rebounds) and Kalea Davis (11 points, 14 rebounds) all had double-doubles for the Bearcats.

Cristino added five rebounds and five assists for the Red Hawks while Feeney, Pflug and JAIME ERICSON (Flemington, NJ / Hunterdon Central) each finished with six points.

Montclair will look to get back in the win column on Saturday, December 12 when they travel to Selinsgrove, PA to face Susquehanna University at 2:00 pm