Senior forward Ferin Catlett (Lawnside, NJ/Haddon Heights) added the same 14 points and seven boards for the Red Hawks, who improved to 9-8 overall and 5-2 in the conference's North Division.
Junior guard Sabrina Sanchez (Keasbey, NJ/Woodbridge) had a game-high 27 points, including seven three-point field goals as the Scarlet Raiders nearly rallied from a 14-point deficit in the second half before falling to 11-6 overall, 4-2 in the North Division.
Montclair State built a seemingly comfortable 49-35 lead with 6:28 to go as Garrabrant hit the second of two free throws. However, the Scarlet Raiders chipped away at the lead and got within 54-53 with 53 seconds left as Sanchez converted a pair of foul shots. Montclair would get the ball back and with the shock clock inside seven seconds, Garrabrant rolled in a layup to a three-point lead with 27 ticks. Rutgers-Newark would get an opportunity to tie the game, but Eni Fageyinbo (Morris Plains, NJ/Parsippany Hills) drove and was blocked by Catlett. Garrabrant then hit two free throws with six seconds left for the final margin.
After a first half that featured six ties and three lead changes, Rutgers-Newark led 27-25 at the break thanks in part to 14 points by Sanchez in the opening 20 minutes. But Montclair State began the second half with an 18-3 run to build a 13-point lead with just over 10:30 to play. Catlett scored the first four points and freshman Jackie Berry (Tuckerton, NJ/Pinelands) added a layup as MSU used a 6-0 spurt to take the lead for good. Garrabrant would add a layup to make the score 35-29 and after a Scarlet Raider free throw, Meghan Kelley (Newtown, CT/Newtown) began an 8-0 run as the Red Hawks stretched the lead to 43-30.
After Garrabrant’s free throws pushed the advantage to 14 points, Rutgers-Newark began it climb back into the game as Sanchez buried a pair of three’s to trim the lead to 51-43. After a Montclair basket by Cynthia Warrington (Villas, NJ/Lower Cape May Regional), Fageyinbo scored four points to bring the Scarlet Raiders within six with 3:41 left. Youngor Kehleay (Eatontown, NJ/Monmouth Regional) then hit two free throws before Nerlande Nicols’ (Maplewood, NJ/Columbia) with 1:59 to go made the score 54-51.
Kelley finished with 12 points for Montclair State while Berry chipped in with 10, four rebounds, three assist and three steals. The Red Hawks shot 42 percent (18-of-42) for the game, but enjoyed a 20-of-27 (74 percent) shooting night at the foul line.
Kehleay had 11 points and five assists for Rutgers-Newark, which shot just 36 percent (19-for-53) from the field.
Both teams return to action on Saturday, January 27. Montclair State will host Richard Stockton at the Panzer Gym at 4:00 pm while the Scarlet Raiders entertain The College of New Jersey at the Golden Dome beginning at 5:30 pm.