MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. - The Monmouth University women's basketball team visits Moon Township, Pa. on Saturday afternoon for a clash with two-time defending Northeast Conference Tournament Champion Robert Morris. The Hawks have won five straight league games after defeating Long Island 59-57 this past Monday. Senior Marisa Jimenez made a strong move to the basket and finished with the left hand to put MU in front for good at 58-57 with 34 seconds left in the game. Long Island took a 57-54 lead after Chelsi Johnson hit a jumper in the lane with 1:38 left in the contest, but Monmouth senior LaKia Barber responded with a jumper from the foul line to draw MU within one. The Hawks then forced a turnover on the ensuing Blackbirds possession, which set up Jimenez's heroics.
Game Preview (More information available under the 'Game Notes' section):
COLONIAL QUICKFACTS
Robert Morris is the two-time defending NEC Tournament Champions and appears ready to make a run at their third straight crown this season. The Colonials sit at 10-10 overall, but 7-2 in the league. They are coming off a 60-55 win over North Carolina Central this past Tuesday evening. RMU is paced by reigning NEC Player of the Week Sade Logan, who is averaging 21.2 points per game. Logan, who was also last season's NEC Player of the Year, missed the first seven games of the season with an injury but has been on a tear since returning, recently becoming the fastest Colonial to score 1,000 points.
FIVE ALIVE
Monmouth is currently riding a five-game NEC winning streak after defeating Long Island this past Monday. The Hawks have climbed back into NEC Tournament contention and now sits in a fifth place tie at 5-4 in the league. MU is hitting 36.6% of their three-pointers during the streak, while only allowing the opposition to connect on 24.1% of their attempts from distance. The Hawks are also limiting their opponents to 50 points per game and only allowing them to hit 34.9% of their field goals over the last five games. Three Hawks, Jennifer Bender, LaKia Barber and Alexis Scott are averaging double-figures during the run, while a fourth, Alexis Canady, is averaging 9.8 points per game during the streak.
THE GAME:
Monmouth (10-9, 5-4 NEC) at Robert Morris (10-10, 7-2 NEC)
January 31, 2009
Tip: 4:00 p.m.
Location: Sewall Center - Moon Township, Pa.
Radio: WMCX, 88.9 FM
Internet: www.wmcx.com
