NEWARK, NJ – Senior guard Nerlande Nicolas had 20 points, five assists and three steals as Rutgers-Newark rode a first-half surge to a 60-48 New Jersey Athletic Conference women's basketball victory over Montclair State.

NCAA Box Score

Nicolas and senior center Stephanie Ross, who had eight of her 15 points in the opening period, had four points each during a decisive 21-4 Scarlet Raider run which staked Rutgers-Newark to a 24-9 lead with 6:53 left in the opening period. Senior reserve forward Toni Roselli wrapped up the spurt by dropping in a pair of 3-point jumpers around a trey by junior guard Youngor Kehleay.

After Rutgers-Newark led 37-21 at the half, Nicolas and Ross again had four points apiece during a 10-0 run early in the second period to lead 47-23.

RAIDER VISION HIGHLIGHT VIDEO

Montclair State sophomore guard Kisandra Ayanbeku had four of her team-high 11 points as the Red Hawks took advantage of an 8:15 scoreless streak by the Raiders to get back into the fray at 49-38. But, 11 was as close as the visitors would get.

Senior forward Eni Fageyinbo had a team-high eight rebounds to go along with eight points and Roselli also finished with eight points.

The Red Hawks got a game-high 10 rebounds, eight points and three steals from senior forward Jessica Garrabrant and nine points, five rebounds and three blocked shots from sophomore forward Catherine Cristino.

The win boosted Rutgers-Newark (17-4, NJAC 6-3) into sole possession of second place in the NJAC North Division while the Red Hawks (12-8, NJAC 5-4) are still in a position of strength to gain one of three divisional berths for the upcoming championship tournament.

The 17 wins puts the 2007-08 Raiders alone for second place on the single-season victory list for women's basketball at Rutgers-Newark.  Last season's squad finished with a 16-11 record to match win totals for the 1986-87 (16-7) and 1996-97 (16-8).  The 20-2 squad of 1985-86 possesses the most wins by any Rutgers-Newark basketball team -- men or women.

The Red Hawks and Raiders split their regular-season home-and-home matchup.

Rutgers-Newark visits Kean on Saturday for an NJAC doubleheader with the women tipping off at 1 p.m. while the Red Hawks host Rowan with a 2 o'clock start.