West Long Branch, N.J.- Monmouth University's women's basketball team fell to 0-1 on the season after dropping their home opener to Rice, 76-45 on Friday night.

The Owls led from start to finish, holding the Hawks to 16 percent shooting in the first half to take a 37-16 lead into the break. Rice shot 48 percent in the first 20 minutes and was lead by forward Lauren Neaves and guard Krystal Frazier who each had eight points. Monmouth's Brianne Edwards (Bloomfield, Conn./Suffield) led the Hawks at the break.

With a 21 point lead after the half, Rice went on a 10-2 run in the opening five minutes of the second, their largest lead of the game. The Hawks played better down the stretch, but the damage was done as MU fell by 31 points in the game.

Edwards led the Hawks with seven points on the night, while Marisa Jimenez (Carteret, N.J./Carteret) and Nyaimah Ware (Washington, D.C./Dunbar) led Monmouth on the glass with seven rebounds each. Monmouth shot 21 percent as a team, including a 5-for-30 effort in the first half.

Neaves led all scorers with 19 points and was tied with three other Rice players in rebounds with eight. Frazier finished with 10 points for the Owls, with Maudess Fulton chipping in 13 points. Rice held 56-42 advantage in rebounds with the Hawks committing one less turnover, 17-18.

Monmouth will look to bounce back next Friday night, Nov. 17, when they host Rider at 7 p.m.