WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - The Monmouth University women's basketball team improved to 2-0 in Northeast Conference play with a 57-39 win over Bryant University in Northeast Conference action on Wednesday evening at the Multipurpose Activity Center. The Hawks (10-3) rode a stingy and aggressive defense in their win over the Bulldogs, who dropped to 3-10 overall and 0-2 in the league.
MU's 2-0 record to begin league play is its best start to the conference slate since opening 4-0 during the 2002-03 season. This also marks only the sixth time since the Hawks joined the league in 1986 that the Blue and White have won its first two NEC games.
Sophomore Erin Rooney (Christchurch, N.Z. /Marian College) paced MU with 11 points, hitting 2-of-4 from three-point range. Junior Alexis Canady (Forestville, Md. /Bishop McNamara) added 10 points (2-of-3 3PT), five rebounds and three assists, while Alysha Womack (Springfield, Pa. /Bishop McNamara) also contributed 10 points.
MU took an 11-9 lead with 11:42 left in the first half after Canady converted a fast-break lay-up. Consecutive triples from sophomores Chevannah Paalvast (Auckland, N.Z. /Massey) and Gabby Singer (Harrisburg, Pa. /Central Dauphin) pushed Monmouth's lead to 17-9 with just less than 11 minutes to go before halftime.
The Hawks took a 30-23 lead into intermission after connecting on 5-of-12 three-pointers in the opening half, including a pair from Singer, who scored all nine of her points in the opening 20 minutes. MU also hit 7-of-8 from the foul line in the opening half.
Monmouth turned up the defensive pressure in the second half, limiting the Bulldogs to 16 points on 19% (4-of-21) shooting. The Hawks forced 16 second-half turnovers from Bryant, while coming up with seven steals, including two from senior Gena Broadus (Washington, D.C. /Archbishop Carroll [George Mason]).
Singer added nine points, three rebounds and two steals in the game, while sophomore Abby Martin (Maplewood, N.J. /Columbia) stuffed the stat sheet with eight points, a team-high nine rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks. Monmouth held Bryant, which was paced by Danielle Douglas' team-best 12 points, to 29.5% shooting for the game.
Monmouth returns to action on Friday when the Hawks host Quinnipiac in the Second Annual Matinee at The MAC at 12:00 pm.
