Montclair, NJ … The College of New Jersey women's basketball team battled back from a 20-point deficit, but fell short as the dropped a 56-47 decision to Montclair State University on Saturday in the Panzer Athletic Center.
 
The loss drops the Lions to 11-12 this season and 8-9 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference standings. Rutgers University-Camden defeated William Paterson University, 63-49 and also moved to 8-9 in the NJAC. That leaves the Lions, Pioneers, and Scarlet Raptors in a three-way tie for fifth place. Rutgers-Newark battles Rowan University this evening at 6 p.m. The Scarlet Raiders are currently 7-9 in the NJAC and will look to make it a four-way tie entering the final regular season game of the season.

The Lions will take on the Scarlet Raiders on Wednesday night at 6 p.m. in Packerh Hall. They defeated Rutgers-Newark in Newark, NJ 59-47 on January 11. They out-rebounded the Scarlet Raiders 53-24 in that game and connected on 16-of-18 free throws.

On Saturday, TCNJ staged a late comeback in the fourth quarter that kept the outcome in question, but the Red Hawks held on to move to 22-2 on the season and 15-2 in the conference. Sophomore Kate O'Leary (Trumbull, CT/Trumbull) led the Lions with 12 points and junior Nikki Schott (Washington, NJ/Warren Hills) was a perfect 5-for-5 from the floor to finish with 10 points.
 
A pair of free throws by senior guard Kim Dana (Freehold, NJ/Freehold Twp.) gave the Lions an early 7-6 lead and her three pointer later in the first quarter extended it to 16-10. The Red Hawks erupted for a 20-3 run, however, and surged ahead to post 30-21 halftime lead.
 
The MSU advantage grew to 20 points in the third period, but a three-point field goal by Nicole Shatsky (Marlboro, NJ/Marlboro) cut it to 49-32 at the end of the quarter.
 
TCNJ made it interesting down the stretch. A 13-0 run put a scare into the first-place Red Hawks. Schott hit a jumper and junior Cindy Napolitano (Wall, NJ/St. Rose) dropped in a shot from behind the arc. Three free throws by O'Leary, a jumper by Chiara Palombi (Manasquan, NJ/Manasquan), and 3 from O'Leary closed the gap to 53-47.
 
The MSU defense buckled down and did not permit a point over the final 2:53 of the game. Kate Sire banked in a lay-up and a free throw to secure the win.
 
For the final game of the season, WPU will host Kean University on Wednesday night. Rutgers-Camden will host Montclair State and Rutgers-Newark will visit Packer Hall at TCNJ for a 6 p.m. tip-off. The top six teams qualify for post-season play.