WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - The Monmouth University women's basketball team (10-4, 2-1 NEC) dropped a 60-57 decision to Quinnipiac University (6-8, 3-0 NEC) in Northeast Conference action on Friday afternoon at the Multipurpose Activity Center. The game concluded the program's second annual 'Matinee at the MAC' and was contested in front of an attendance of 1,915, mainly elementary and middle school students from 16 area schools.
After trailing Quinnipiac by as many as 13 points with 5:48 remaining in the second half, Gabby Singer (Harrisburg, Pa. /Central Dauphin) and Chevannah Paalvast (Auckland, N.Z. /Massey) connected on consecutive three-pointers for the Hawks around the 1:00 mark to cut the Bobcats' lead to 59-57. However, MU was unable to get a shot off on its final possession before ultimately falling.
Sophomore Alysha Womack (Springfield, Pa. /Cardinal O'Hara) led Monmouth with 16 points while Paalvast added a career-high 11 points and six rebounds off the bench. Abby Martin (Maplewood, N.J. /Columbia) contributed eight points and a game-high 10 rebounds for the Hawks.
The Hawks fell behind 6-0 before sophomores Erin Rooney (Christchurch, N.Z. /Marian College) and Womack buried consecutive corner triples to knot the contest with 16:38 left in the opening half.
Monmouth concluded a 12-2 scoring run with a Womack jumper to take an 18-10 lead with 11:43 remaining before halftime. The Bobcats took their first lead since the 16:30 mark of the opening half when they held a 25-24 advantage with 1:41 left after a Shelby Sferra basket.
Quinnipiac took a 27-26 lead into halftime after Lisa Lebak beat the first-half buzzer with a lay-in. The Bobcats shot 40% in the opening half while the Hawks, who were paced by Womack's 13 points, connected on 37% of their first-half attempts.
The visitor's maintained a slim lead throughout the first 10 minutes of the second half, stretching it to a 44-35 advantage with 8:55 left in the game. Four quick points from Paalvast cut Quinnipiac's lead to 52-45 with four minutes left in the contest.
Rooney contributed nine points and six rebounds, while Alexis Canady (Forestville, Md. /Bishop McNamara) added eight points and five rebounds.
Quinnipiac was led by Jacinda Dunbar's game-high 19 points, while Brittany McQuain chipped in with 13 points and four rebounds off the bench.
MU returns to action on Monday night when it hosts Sacred Heart University at 7:00 pm.
