WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - The Monmouth University women's basketball team led bell-to-bell in a 74-52 win over Long Island University in Northeast Conference action on Saturday afternoon at the Multipurpose Activity Center.
The Hawks turned a four-point halftime advantage into a 30-point lead at one point late in the game to improve to 14-6 overall (6-3 NEC) while LIU fell to 12-8 (4-5 NEC) with the loss. Monmouth, which was led by Alysha Womack's (Springfield, Pa. /Cardinal O'Hara) 16 points had five players register double-digit scoring efforts on the afternoon.
Alexis Canady (Forestville, Md. /Bishop McNamara) added 13 points and four assists while Erin Rooney (Christchurch, N.Z. /Marian College) notched 12 points and three assists on the afternoon. Abby Martin (Maplewood, N.J. /Columbia) had 15 points and eight rebounds in the game as the Hawks held a 36-33 advantage on the glass. Gena Broadus (Washington, D.C. /Archbishop Carroll [George Mason]) had 10 points and five boards with the win.
The Hawks raced out to an 8-0 lead less than three minutes into the game after consecutive three-pointers from Rooney and Womack. MU extended its lead to 23-8 after back-to-back triples from Canady and Womack with just less than 10 minutes remaining in the first half.
Eight straight points from LIU forward Ashley Palmer cut the Hawks' lead to 25-18 with five minutes left before halftime. The Blackbirds continued their run to cut MU's lead to 34-30 at halftime. The Hawks, who were led by Womack's nine first-half points, shot 58.3% from the floor in the first half. Long Island was paced in the first 20 minutes by Palmer's 15 points.
Monmouth steadily increased its lead back to 46-37 with eight minutes gone by in the second half after Rooney converted a transition lay-up. Rooney then swished through a three to put MU up 51-39 at the halfway point of the second half.
Consecutive three's from Canady and Chevannah Paalvast (Auckland, N.Z. /Massey) spurred a 15-2 Monmouth scoring run to give the Hawks a 59-39 lead with 8:12 left in the contest.
MU set a season high with 11 made three pointers, shooting an impressive 55 % from beyond the arc in the win. The Hawks shot 52% from the floor, compared to LIU's 36.7 % shooting effort. The Blackbirds were led by Ashley Palmer's 16 points in the loss.
Monmouth returns to action on Monday evening when it hosts St. Francis College at 7:00 pm.
