WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - The Monmouth University women's basketball team (11-4, 3-1 NEC) defeated Sacred Heart University (9-6, 3-1 NEC), 55-37 in Northeast Conference action on Monday evening at the Multipurpose Activity Center. The Hawks led wire-to-wire, building an advantage that grew to as many as 21 points with 8:00 left in the second half.
Abby Martin (Maplewood, N.J. /Columbia) logged her seventh career double-double, and her third of the season, with 14 points and 11 rebounds, while Alysha Womack (Springfield, Pa. /Cardinal O'Hara) contributed 14 points, adding a pair of three-pointers.
The Hawks got off to a hot start, taking a 9-2 lead with 15:54 left in the first half, paced by four early points from Martin and a triple from Alexis Canady (Forestville, Md. /Bishop McNamara). The visitor's went on a 6-0 scoring run to cut MU's lead to one, but Womack canned a pull-up jumper to give the Hawks an 11-8 lead with 10:09 showing the half.
A Womack trifecta and a traditional three-point play from Martin gave the Hawks a 17-13 lead with 4:57 remaining in the first half. The Hawks stretched their lead to 27-17 after Carly Thibault (East Lyme, Conn. /East Lyme) knocked down a pair of three-pointers, the second with 1:43 remaining.
Gabby Singer (Harrisburg, Pa. /Central Dauphin) connected on a three as the first half clock ran out to give the Hawks a 30-18 lead at the break. MU, which shot 37.5% in the first half, was paced by Martin's nine points and six rebounds, while Womacked added seven in the first half. The Pioneers, who shot 36.4% in the opening half, were led by Ericka Norman's six first half points.
MU stretched its lead to 42-27 with 11:24 remaining in the contest as both Martin and Womack cracked into double-digits in the scoring column. The Hawks extended their advantage to an even 20 points at 47-27 after Womack took a skip pass from Thibault and rattled home a triple with less than 10 minutes to go in the game.
Gena Broadus (Washington, D.C. /Archbishop Carroll [George Mason]) added six points and eight rebounds for MU, while Thibault chipped in with six points (2-4 3PT) and three bounds. In all, nine Hawks scored in the game.
Monmouth limited Sacred Heart to 26.5% shooting, including 18.5% (5-of-27) in the second half. The Pioneers were led by Maureen Reilly's 10 points while leading scorer Callan Taylor, who averages over 15 points per game, was shut out.
Monmouth returns to action on Saturday when it visits Moon Township, Pennsylvania for a 4:00 pm tip with Robert Morris.
