GREENVILLE, N.C. - Carly Thibault (East Lyme, Conn./East Lyme) and Alexis Canady (Forestville, Md./Bishop McNamara) scored in double figures, but the Monmouth University women's basketball team fell to East Carolina, 75-52, Wednesday night at Williams Arena at Minges Coliseum. With the loss, the Hawks fall to 2-4 on the season, while ECU improves to 5-2.

Thibault had 11 points, including 3-of-5 shooting from long range, while Canady scored 10 points and added five assists. Chevannah Paalvast (Auckland, New Zealand/Massey) and Shira Shecht (Pardessiya, Israel/Hadassim) chipped in with eight points apiece, while Gena Broadus (Washington, D.C./Archbishop Carroll) had a team-high nine rebounds. Gabby Singer (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) had a team-high four steals.

Kristine Mial led ECU with 16 points, 11 rebounds, five steals and four blocks, while Chareya Smith (13) and Shala Hodges (11) also scored in double figures.

For the game, the Pirates outshot the Hawks, 43.1 percent (25-58) to 30.4 percent (17-56) from the floor, 43.8 percent (7-16) to 38.5 percent (5-13) from long range, and 75.0 percent (18-24) to 72.2 percent (13-18) from the free-throw line. ECU outrebounded MU, 43-33, and forced 28 Monmouth turnovers. MU forced ECU into 23 turnovers.  

The Hawks trailed by as many as 15 in the first half, but sparked by six points from Canady, finished the stanza on an 8-0 run to close the deficit to seven points, 33-26, at the break. Thibault also buried a pair of three-pointers to finish the half with six points. ECU's Hodges countered with eight points, while Mial and Chapple had seven points apiece.

ECU opened the second half on a 13-3 run and the Pirates' lead never whittled to fewer than 15 points the rest of the way.   

Monmouth commences Northeast Conference action Saturday, when it travels to Moon Township, Pa., to take on Robert Morris. Opening tip from the Sewall Center is scheduled for 4 p.m.