RED HAWKS BREEZE PAST ARCADIA IN DAYS INN TOURNAMENT, 69-47

Gettysburg, PA (1/3/08) – Junior guard Marianne McGovern (Fair Lawn, NJ / Paramus Catholic) and sophomore forward Catherine Cristino (Farmingdale, NJ / Colts Neck) each scored 14 points as Montclair State finished in third place at the Days Inn Tournament at Gettysburg College with a 69-47 victory over Arcadia University in the Consolation Game of the Tournament on Thursday afternoon.

McGovern earned a spot on the All-Tournament Teams as the Red Hawks moved back over the .500 mark while snapping a three-game skid. It was also Montclair State’s second win this season against the Knights (2-8) as it downed Arcadia, 66-44 in the Red Hawk-Pioneer Classic at William Paterson University on November 24.

Montclair trailed 17-14 with 7:23 to go in the first half when it scored 13 of the final 17 points of the half to take a 27-21 advantage into the locker room. Jackie Berry (Tuckerton, NJ / Pinelands Regional) pulled MSU within a point with a layup and Jessica Garrabrant (Denville, NJ / Morris Knolls) put the Red Hawks in front for good with another layup before Jessica Horan (West Haverstraw, NY / North Rockland) drained a three to make the score 21-17 with 4:26 to play. After an Arcaia bucket, Amy Bonk ( Edison, NJ / JP Stevens) countered with a layup and then added the final score of the opening period as MSU led by six at the break.

In the second half, MSU quickly extended its lead with a 15-0 run in the first 5:23 of the frame. Cristino got things rolling with a layo and McGovern scored the first of her 11 second-half points as MSU took a 31-21 lead. After another basket by Cristino, McGovern scored on back-to-back possessions and Garrabrant followed with four straight points of her own as MSU moved in front 41-21 with 15:45 to play. Cristino finished off a break to boost the lead to 22 and McGovern capped the run with a foul shot as Montclair State took a commanding 44-21 advantage.

Garrabrant finished with eight points and 10 rebounds for Montclair State, which got nine points apiece from Horan and Jamilee Pflug ( Clark, NJ / Arthur L. Johnson) Berry added six points, five rebounds and four assists while Cristino registered four boards, four steals and two blocks to complete her evening. Montclair State held a 46-35 advantage, including 26-10 on the offensive glass.

The Red Hawks return to action on Monday, January 7 as it hosts the Hawks of Hunter College at Panzer Gymnasium beginning at 7:00 pm.