CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - The Monmouth University women's basketball team dropped a 75-49 decision to Boston College from the Atlantic Coast Conference at Conte Forum on Saturday afternoon. The Hawks drop to 3-4 on the season with the loss, while the Eagles win their fifth straight to improve to 5-3.
The Hawks, who trailed 33-24 at the half, were paced by a career-high tying 12 points from freshman Abby Martin (Maplewood, N.J. /Columbia) on 6-of-10 shooting. Sophomore Alexis Canady (Forestville, Md. /Bishop McNamara) tied a season-high with 11 points, hitting 5-of-6 shots, while freshman Adriana Allen (Ajax, Ont. /Pickering) scored a career-best 10 points, adding four boards.
Martin scored the contest's first basket 20 seconds in, but Boston College took an 8-6 lead into the first media timeout after consecutive three-pointers from Jaclyn Thoman and Mickel Picco. The Eagles then went on a 10-2 scoring run to stretch their lead into double-digits with 12:39 left in the opening half.
BC's lead stood at 26-14 lead with 7:31 remaining before halftime, paced by accurate long-range shooting as the Eagles hit six of their first seven three-pointers. Two free throws and a pull up jumper from Allen cut Boston College's lead to 30-20 at the four-minute mark of the opening half.
The Hawks were able to cut Boston College's lead into single-digits at the half, 33-24, when junior Chanel Gomez (Perth Amboy, N.J. /Brookdale C.C.) grabbed an offensive rebound and scored on a put back with no time left in the opening half. Martin and Canady each led the Hawks with six first half points, while Erin Rooney (Christchurch, N.Z. /Marian College) and Allen added four apiece for MU. The undersized Hawks equaled the Eagles in points-in-the-paint in the opening half with each squad scoring 12 points down low.
MU shot 40% (10-for-25) in the first half, while BC connected on 56.5% (13-of-23) of its field goals. The Eagles also hit 6-of-9 of their three-point attempts and outrebounded the Hawks 14-11. Reigning ACC Player of the Week Carolyn Swords led Boston College with 11 points in the first half.
Five quick points from Swords, including a traditional three-point play, pushed BC's advantage back to double-figures at 43-28 with 15:57 left in the game. Another traditional three-point play from Swords extended the Eagles lead to 52-32 with 9:50 left.
The Hawks shot 37.7% (20-for-53) for the game, hitting 2-of-8 from three-point range and 7-of-9 free throws. Rooney added eight points in the contest for the Hawks. BC shot 56% (28-for-50) in the game, connecting on 10-of-20 three-pointers and 9-of-12 from the foul line. The Eagles, who had 23 assists on 28 made field goals, were led by Swords' 22 points and nine rebounds. Kerri Shields added 12 points on four three-pointers, while Stefanie Murphy contributed 10 points. The Eagles proved to be very opportunistic, turning Monmouth's 13 turnovers into 27 points in the contest.
Monmouth returns to action on Wednesday when they visit Penn State for a 7:00 pm nonconference contest at State College.
