UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Monmouth University women's basketball team fell to Penn State, 67-42 in nonconference action on Wednesday evening at the Bryce Jordan Center. The Hawks fall to 3-5 on the season with the loss, while PSU improves to 6-3.
Monmouth freshman Gabby Singer (Harrisburg, Pa. /Central Dauphin) led the way with a career-high 12 points, including a pair of three-pointers, off the bench. Fellow newcomer Abby Martin (Maplewood, N.J. /Columbia) chipped in with five points and team-high 12 rebounds.
The Lady Lions took an early 11-6 lead with 15:25 left in the first half, paced by nine quick points from senior Meredith Monroe. Singer supplied MU with five quick points off the bench on consecutive possessions, including a left corner three-pointer, but PSU maintained an 18-11 lead with 11:26 left before halftime. Penn State's lead quickly inflated to 24-13 with six and a half minutes to go in the opening half after back-to-back baskets from Tyra Grant and an offensive rebound and put back from Nikki Greene.
Penn State take a 32-13 lead into halftime, paced by nine points apiece from Grant and Monroe. The Lady Lions shot 54.5% (12-for-22) in the first half and hit 8-of-9 (88.9%) of their free throws in the first half. The Hawks, who went scoreless for the last 10:27 of the first half, shot 18.2% (6-for-33) and were led by Singer's five points.
PSU's lead, which stood in double figures the entire second half, grew to as many as 25, which ended up being the deciding difference.
Grant led four Lady Lions in double figures with a game-high 14 points, while Greene added a double-double with 12 points and a game-high 14 rebounds. Monroe and Alex Bentley each contributed 11 points while the latter added a game-best seven assists.
Penn State shot 47.1% from the field for the game (24-for-51) and 18-23 (78.3%) from the charity stripe. The Hawks connected on 22.1% (15-of-68) of their field goals, including 3-of-16 from three-point territory. MU hit 9-of-14 free throws (64.3%) in the contest as well.
Freshman Adriana Allen (Ajax, Ont. /Pickering) scored six points for Monmouth, while a trio of newcomers, Martin, Erin Rooney (Christchurch, N.Z. /Marian College) and Carly Thibault (East Lyme, Conn. /East Lyme), each contributed five points.
Penn State outscored the Hawks 30-14 in the paint, and added 17 second chance points on its 16 offensive boards. The Lady Lions outrebounded MU 51-37, but Monmouth held a 21-16 edge on the offensive glass.
The game, which was broadcast on www.BigTenNetwork.com, will air on tape delay on the Big Ten Network television channel on Thursday at 11:00 am.
Monmouth returns to action on Sunday when they visit Columbia for a 1:00 pm nonconference tilt.
