FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
12/16/2006

BOX SCORE

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. ? The Monmouth University women's basketball team lead by as many as nine points in the first half, but fell to Drexel 75-67 in overtime Saturday afternoon at the John Daskalakis Center in Philadelphia, Pa. The Hawks, who were outscored 17-9 in the extra session, drop to 5-4 while Drexel improves to 3-6.

Monmouth was led by Brianne Edwards, who scored a career-high 18 points, including three three-point field goals, and five assists. Jennifer Bender chipped in with 12 points while Marisa Jimenez scored 11 and added a career-high eight assists.

With MU down by two 58-56 with thirty seconds left, Edwards drove the length of the court and was fouled, and her two free-throws knotted the game at 58-58 with 23 seconds left.

Monmouth forced Narissa Suber into a forced shot on Drexel's ensuing possession and LaKia Barber pulled down the rebound with :3.7 seconds left in the game. Nyaimah Ware's half court heave at the buzzer fell short and the game headed into overtime.

Suber scored the first eight Drexel points in the extra frame and 11 of the team's 17.

MU committed two unforced errors in the final minute of overtime and was unable to get a shot off as Drexel connected on their free throws in the extra session.

The Hawks began the game on a 12-4 run keyed by two Edwards three-point field goals, the first as the shot clock expired, at the 15:00 mark of the first half.

The MU lead was cut to six at 18-12, with freshman Brooke McElroy supplying the offense by draining back-to-back three pointers, at the 11:24 mark.

The Blue and White maintained their advantage at 24-17 at the 7:39 mark of the opening stanza behind consecutive Bender buckets.

The Hawks held steady, maintaining their seven point lead at halftime at 32-25. The Blue and White were led by Edwards' eight first half points. Monmouth led all first half with their biggest lead swelling to nine at the 1:34 mark.

The Dragons came out of the intermission on a 11-4 run of their own to tie the Hawks for the first time at 36-36 at the 14:00 mark led by consecutive three-point field goals by Kira Karlstrom and Suber.

Drexel took their first lead of the game at the 11:45 mark of the game as Allison Lupariello hit a three pointer from the right wing to give the Dragons a 39-38 advantage.

The Dragons lead swelled to six at 46-40 at the 9:50 mark, but the Hawks closed it to a deuce at 46-44 behind a Barber strong move and finish at the 8:00 mark.

Monmouth University returns to action on Friday, December 22 when they host American for a 7 p.m. tip at Boylan Gym.