FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
12/22/06

BOX SCORE

WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. ? Monmouth University's women's basketball team shot 50 percent from the floor to take down Patriot League foe American University, 76-64, Friday night at Boylan Gymnasium.

After holding a 20 point lead at one point during the game, Monmouth found itself up 68-61 at home against American on Friday night with just under two minutes to play, and held off the Eagle attack earning the 76-64 victory. The Hawks were led by Lindsey Zegowitz (Damascus, Md./Damascus), who had a career-high 15 points while adding seven rebounds.

“I was a little disappointed in the second half, I felt our defense let up a bit,” said head coach Michele Baxter. “AU is a good team, they have had some good wins against good teams this season and this was a quality win for our program. In the first half we defended very well and moved the ball efficiently and took advantage of their miscues. It was big for us to out-rebound the Eagles because it was something they have excelled at all season.”

Monmouth held an 18 point advantage going into the second half, which it expanded to 20 points at the 11:35 mark, taking a 44-24 lead. The Hawks and Eagles went back and forth scoring, with the MU offense answering every American bucket with one of their own. With just over eight minutes to play American launched a 11-3 run that included a trio of three pointers to close to within 13. Monmouth junior Veronica Randolph (Deerfield Beach, Fla./Deerfield Beach) hit a three to restore the Hawk lead to 17. With 4:28 remaining, Randolph answered an American layup by hitting an open three from wing to give the Hawks a 66-49 win. The visiting Eagles cut the lead to nine with 2:44 remaining on four consecutive successful free throws but were unable to complete the comeback.

The Hawks opened up a 9-1 advantage through six minutes, forcing six turnovers. Lakia Barber (Clinton, Md./Gwynn Park) hit a deep two pointer to go up by 10, before American's Liz Hayes stopped the bleeding with a free throw followed up by a three pointer. Back to back buckets by Jennifer Bender and Charisse Johnson (East Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg), who hit a trey to put the Hawks back up by double digits. With a 22-9 lead, Monmouth's Nyimah Ware (Washington, D.C./Dunbar) hit MU's fourth triple of the first half to take a 16 point lead. Once again it was Hayes that kept the Eagles within striking distance, hitting a three pointer, that kept the visitors back 14. Monmouth closed out the first frame by going on a 11-4 run to take a 36-18 lead into the lockeroom. Monmouth shot 53.8 percent in the first half, including 60 percent from three-point land. The MU defense stifled the Eagle offense, forcing 12 turnovers and holding the visitors to 18.5 percent shooting.

The Eagles were led by Hayes, who had a career-high 28 points. Sophomore Nicole Ryan chipped in 17 while Maggie Smith-Davidson had a game-high 10 rebounds. American finished shooting just 29.7 percent from the floor and were 6-of-29 from beyond the arc.

Along with Zegowitz's career-high, Bender had a 12 point effort, seven of which came in the second half. Zegowitz and Brianne Edwards had seven boards each to pace the Hawks. Edwards had 11 points in the contest. The Hawks were 6-10 from three point range and shot 50 percent overall in the game.

Monmouth, now 6-4 on the season, are back home against another Patriot League foe, Lafayette on Dec. 31, 2006. The Leopards and Hawks tipoff at 3:30 p.m.