MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. ? The Monmouth University women's basketball team lost to defending Northeast Conference Tournament Champion Robert Morris 82-65 on Monday night at the Sewall Center. Monmouth falls to 2-11 and 0-3 in the conference, while Robert Morris improves to 6-8 and 2-1 in league play.
The Hawks and Colonials were deadlocked early at 6-6 after LaKia Barber (Clinton, Md./Gwynn Park) came in off the bench and drilled a 15-foot jump shot from the right baseline at the 14:20 mark of the first half. Robert Morris then took a 21-8 lead with less than nine minutes left in the first period after going on a 15-2 run, keyed by a three-pointer from Kendra Williams at the 11:08 mark; Jennifer Bender (Staten Island, N.Y./Staten Island Tech) halted the RMU run with an open court, breakaway lay in around the nine-minute mark.
The Colonials extended their lead to 33-18 at the 4:48 mark following a lay up by Angela Pace. The hosts extended their lead at halftime to an even 20 points at 45-25. Bender led the way for Monmouth with 13 points in the first half, but MU struggled from the floor, shooting 25.8 % while RMU shot 54.3 %. The 45 points Robert Morris scored was the most MU allowed in a half all season.
The Hawks came out and scored 14 points in the first five minutes of the second half to cut the Colonials lead to 57-39 at the 14:40 mark behind consecutive baskets by Veronica Randolph (Deerfield Beach, Fla./Deerfield Beach). The Hawks cut Robert Morris's lead to 68-53 at the five-minute mark of the second half behind a Randolph right-wing three-point field goal. MU trimmed the Colonials lead to 13 after a Marbely Montas (Cranford, N.J./Elizabeth) lay in to make it 76-63 with two minutes in the game.
Monmouth was led by Bender's season-high 21 points and career-high 12 rebounds for her third double-double of the season. Randolph and Montas each logged 12 points in the game.
Monmouth University returns to action this Saturday, January 12 when they host Quinnipiac at 3:00 p.m. as part of a doubleheader with the men's basketball team and the Bobcats, who tip off at 7:00 p.m at Boylan Gym.
