MONTCLAIR, N.J. – The University of Scranton women's basketball team opened its 2011-2012 season with a see-saw battle against Montclair State on Tuesday night. In the end, it was the Red Hawks who scored last, handing the Lady Royals a 57-55 defeat at the Panzer Athletic Center.

After the final four minutes saw neither team lead by more than two, Montclair State broke the game's final tie when sophomore Theresa Towns (Morristown, N.J./Morristown) scored the final two of her game-high 20 points on a layup with 18 seconds to play.

Scranton got two shots off in the closing seconds, but jumpers by junior guard Katherine Torto (Binghamton, N.Y./Seton Central Catholic) and sophomore guard Alison Sweeney (Wall, N.J./Saint Rose) were off the mark.

Torto made her first career start and scored a game-high 12 for the Lady Royals (0-1) on 4-for-11 shooting from the field and 4-for-5 from the free throw line. Sweeney added 11 points on 5-for-14 shooting, including 1-for-4 from 3-point range.

Junior forward Erin Boggan (Danbury, Conn./Danbury) had six points and 14 rebounds in her first game as a Lady Royal after transferring from Division I Gardner-Webb. Junior guard Christina Hiltunen (Bronx, N.Y./Bishop Kearney) came off the bench to add nine points and five steals for the Lady Royals, who shot 31.6 percent (18-for-57) for the game.

Freshman forward Melissa Tobie (Elizabeth, N.J./Roselle Catholic) added 16 points and nine rebounds for the Red Hawks (1-0), who shot 34.9 percent (22-for-63) from the field.

After the teams played to a 24-24 tie at the half, Montclair State raced out of the locker room to score the first eight points of the second half. Scranton clawed back and eventually held a 39-33 lead at the 10-minute mark, matching its largest lead of the night. But the Lady Royals made just three shots from the field the rest of the way and were outscored, 24-16.

Montclair State enjoyed a 32-20 advantage in points in the paint, including 22-6 in the second half. The Red Hawks also scored 19 points off 20 Scranton turnovers.

Scranton connected on 17 of 19 free throws, but hit just two of 13 attempts from beyond the 3-point arc.

The defeat was the first season-opening loss for Scranton since 2004 when it dropped a 62-58 decision against Williams. It was also just the second loss in eight meetings with Montclair State. The Lady Royals opened last season with a 58-46 victory over the Red Hawks in the Long Center.

The University of Scranton returns to action on Friday when it travels to Gwynedd Valley, Pa. to face Delaware Valley at 6 p.m. in the opening round of the GMC Tip-Off Classic at Gwynedd Mercy College.

Newspaper Box Score
Scranton vs. Montclair State
11-15-11 7:00 pm at Panzer Athletic Center - Montclair, NJ
At Panzer Athletic Center - Montclair, NJ
MONTCLAIR STATE 57, SCRANTON 55

SCRANTON (0-1)
Katherine Torto 4-11 4-5 12; Alison Sweeney 5-14 0-0 11; Christina Hiltunen 3-7 2-2 9; Lindsay Fluehr 2-7 2-2 6; Taylor Pallotta 1-4 4-4 6; Erin Boggan 1-8 4-4 6; Sidney Jaques 1-3 1-1 3; Sarah Gage 1-2 0-0 2; Emma Hart 0-0 0-0 0; Shernai  Bentley 0-0 0-1 0; Lia DiSciascio 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 18-57 17-19 55.

MONTCLAIR STATE (1-0)
Theresa Towns 8-14 4-4 20; Melissa Tobie 7-13 2-5 16; Jaime Ericson 3-12 0-0 8; Michelle Montagna 1-9 2-2 5; Jenny Malone 1-4 0-0 2; Janitza Aquino 0-3 2-2 2; Colleen Kelly 1-5 0-0 2; Taylor Jeffers 1-3 0-0 2; Sara Farrell 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 22-63 10-13 57.

Scranton.......................   24   31  -   55
Montclair State...............   24   33  -   57

3-point goals--Scranton 2-13 (Alison Sweeney 1-4; Christina Hiltunen 1-3; Taylor Pallotta 0-1; Sidney Jaques 0-1; Lia DiSciascio 0-1; Lindsay Fluehr 0-1; Katherine Torto 0-2), Montclair State 3-15 (Jaime Ericson 2-7; Michelle Montagna 1-5; Janitza Aquino 0-1; Melissa Tobie 0-2). Fouled out--Scranton-Sarah Gage, Montclair State-None. Rebounds--Scranton 44 (Erin Boggan 14), Montclair State 39 (Melissa Tobie 9). Assists--Scranton 11 (Erin Boggan 3), Montclair State 11 (Janitza Aquino 4). Total fouls—Scranton 15, Montclair State 17. Technical fouls--Scranton-None, Montclair State-None. A-339

--ROYALS--