NEW BRITAIN, Conn. - The Monmouth University women's basketball team rode a strong defensive effort to a 52-44 win over Northeast Conference foe Central Connecticut State on Thursday afternoon at Detrick Gym. The Hawks improve to 10-10 on the season and 5-4 in league play, while the Blue Devils fall to 7-12 and 4-5 in the conference.
MU limited Central to 32.7% field goal shooting for the game, and allowed its fewest points since holding Davidson to 43 back on November 28.
"This was a great win, especially with how we challenged the team after the Robert Morris game," said Monmouth Head Coach Stephanie V. Gaitley. "We told them that we needed a big defensive effort against this team, who was one of the hottest in the conference. I'm happy with the way they performed today."
Freshman Alysha Womack (Springfield, Pa. /Cardinal O'Hara) led the Hawks with 20 points on 8-of-18 shooting, adding four rebounds and three steals. Freshman Gabby Singer (Harrisburg, Pa. /Central Dauphin) added nine points on 3-of-5 shooting from beyond the arc, while Alexis Canady (Forestville, Md. /Bishop McNamara) contributed eight points, seven rebounds and three steals. Newcomer Erin Rooney (Christchurch, N.Z. /Marian College) added six points and six boards for the Hawks.
MU took an early 8-5 lead with 15:10 remaining in the first half after Womack and Rooney each scored four points apiece. After two free throws from freshman Carly Thibault (East Lyme, Conn. /East Lyme) put Monmouth three, a steal and score from Womack pushed the Hawks lead to 12-7 with 10:52 left before halftime.
Singer canned her second three-pointer of the opening half for the Hawks, giving them a 20-13 lead with 5:20 left before intermission. Five straight points from CCSU's Justina Udenze cut MU's lead to two, but a pair of free throws from fifth-year senior Laura Forbes (Eatontown, N.J. /Monmouth Regional) increased the Hawks lead to 22-18 with 43.5 seconds remaining in the first half.
Neither team shot better than 29% in the first half, with the Hawks hitting 27.6% from the field and the Blue Devils connecting on 28.6%, as Monmouth took a 22-18 lead into halftime. Singer led MU with six first-half points, while Kerrianne Dugan paced CCSU with six as well. The 18 points Monmouth allowed is the fewest points it has given up in a first half since limiting Howard to 13 on December 29.
The Blue Devils outscored Monmouth 8-4 to begin the second half, tying the contest at 26-26 with 14:45 left in the game. Singer's third triple of the game gave the Hawks a 34-28 lead with 11:15 left in the contest.
Back-to-back buckets from Canady and another steal and conversion on the other end from Womack gave Monmouth a 44-37 lead with 5:56 left in the contest.
MU shot 35.2% for the game, but limited to CCSU to only 1-of-8 from three-point range and forced 19 turnovers, scoring 19 points off of the Blue Devils' miscues. Dugan paced CCSU with 17 points, while Kirsten Daamen added seven points, six blocks and four rebounds.
Monmouth returns to action on Saturday, January 30 when it visits Bryant for a 1:00 pm tip in Smithfield, Rhode Island.
