STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. ? The Monmouth University women's basketball team defeated Wagner 59-50 Monday night at the Spiro Sports Center. MU improves to 15-9 and 8-5 in the Northeast Conference, while Wagner drops to 3-21 and 1-12 in the league.
Wagner cut MU's lead to one point at 49-48 with just over two minutes remaining in the game, but Monmouth hit nine straight free throws down the stretch to seal the win.
Monmouth was led by Veronica Randolph (Deerfield Beach, Fla./Deerfield Beach) who scored 11 points, including nine in the second half. Brianne Edwards (Bloomfield, Conn./Suffield) joined her in double figures with 10 points .
Monmouth jumped out to a 7-2 lead behind five quick Edwards' points including a three-point field goal that rattled around the rim and fell through at the 15:15 mark of the first half. The Seahawks then went on an 11-5 run over the next five plus minutes of action, lead by Chelsea Bunyer breakaway lay-up, to take a 13-12 lead at the 9:54 mark.
Wagner took a 23-21 lead into halftime as the Hawks went without a field goal for nearly five minutes before Nyaimah Ware (Washington, D.C./Dunbar) canned a baseline jumper to conclude the first half scoring. She led MU with seven first half points. Both teams struggled from the floor in the first half as Wagner mustered only 34.5 % shooting, while MU shot 27.6 %.
The Hawks came out of the halftime locker room and took their first lead at 26-23 since the 16:00 mark of the first half following a Randolph three-point field goal and Lindsey Zegowitz (Damascus, Md./Damascus) baseline jumper.
Monmouth extended their lead to seven at 38-31 at the 9:57 mark of the second half following a Marisa Jimenez (Carteret, N.J./Carteret) offensive rebound and putback. Randolph then scored on consecutive drives to the basket to keep MU ahead 47-39 at the 4:40 mark.
Jimenez and Zegowitz each added eight points, while LaKia Barber (Clinton, Md./Gwynn Park) and Ware added seven.
The Hawks return to action on Saturday, February 17 when they travel to Emmitsburg, Md. for a 3 p.m. tip with Mount St. Mary's.
Pictured: Junior Veronica Randolph
