Sophomore Marianne McGovern (Fair Lawn, NJ/Paramus Catholic) had nine points and five assists for the Red Hawks, who moved back to the .500 mark at 5-5. MSU also avenged a pair of losses to Farmingdale last season, including a 58-52 setback in the ECAC Metro Tournament semifinals in Panzer Gym on March 3.
Junior center Mercedes Miller (New York, NY/Manhattan Center) had 14 points and five rebounds for Farmingdale, which led by one at halftime before falling to 5-2 on the season.
A 12-4 run to close out the first half gave the Rams a 27-26 edge at intermission, but Montclair stormed out in the second half with a 16-2 run in the first five minutes to take control. Garrabrant and Rochelle Clark (Bellport, NY/Bellport) traded baskets before McGovern began a 14-point spurt for Montclair with a three-pointer. Jackie Berry (Tuckerton, NJ/Pinelands Regional) and Ferin Catlett (Lawnside, NJ/Haddon Heights) each added baskets before Garrabrant scored the final seven points, including a layup to finish a fast break as Montclair led 42-29 with 15:26 left.
A layup got Farmingdale within nine at 44-35, but Machin sank a short jumper and Jessica Horan (West Haverstraw, NY/North Rockland) drained a three-pointer to boost the lead back into double digits at 49-35 with 13:47 to play.
The Red Hawks, who shot just 39 percent in the first half, turned things around over the final 20 minutes going 18-of-32 from the field (56 percent), including all three attempts from behind the arc. MSU also went 13-of-17 at the line in the second half, 8-of-9 by Machin, who moved over the 1,300-point mark in her career (1,301 points in 93 games).
Catlett had eight points, six rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocked shots for Montclair State, which also got eight points from freshman Catherine Cristino (Farmingdale, NJ/Colts Neck). Garrabrant also added four assists and three steals. MSU finished the game shooting 48 percent (29-of-60) from the floor and outrebounded the Rams, 47-34.
Tiffara Steward (Elmont, NY/Sewanhaka) finished with eight points for the Rams while Nyema Turner (New York, NY/The Heritage School) , Clark and Christine Daley (Elmont, NY/Elmont) each added six points.
The Red Hawks are now off until the New Year as they return to action on Tuesday, January 2 to face the Cardinals of Catholic University in a 7:00 pm matchup at Panzer Gymnasium. Farmingdale is back on the court on Thursday, December 14 as they meet Skyline Conference foe Centenary College at home.