HACKENSACK, N.J. - The Monmouth University women's basketball team defeated Fairleigh Dickinson University, 59-54 at Stratis Arena on Saturday afternoon during the Northeast Conference's Rivalry Week. The Hawks (16-8, 8-5 NEC) defeated the Knights (12-12, 5-8 NEC) in a contest that featured seven ties and three lead changes. The win also enabled Monmouth University to capture the Codey Trophy for the second straight season, which is awarded to the team school that wins the series between the Hawks and Knights men's and women's basketball teams.
FDU whittled down Monmouth's 53-45 lead to a single point with 2:07 remaining after to a 7-0 scoring run. Leading 53-52, Adriana Allen (Ajax, Ont. /Pickering) rattled in a three-pointer with the shot clock running down to push MU's lead to four.
With MU up 57-54 with less than 30 seconds remaining, Alysha Womack (Springfield, Pa. /Cardinal O'Hara) blocked FDU's Jordan Sykes attempt at a game-tying three-pointer. The ball fell to Gena Broadus (Washington, D.C. /Archbishop Carroll [George Mason] who hit a streaking Womack for the lay-in to cement the win.
Womack led the way with 18 points in the contest, while Erin Rooney (Christchurch, N.Z. /Marian College) added 11 points, all in the first half.
After falling behind 5-0, consecutive three-pointers from Rooney and Gabby Singer (Harrisburg, Pa. /Central Dauphin) gave the Hawks a one-point advantage with five minutes gone by in the first half. Womack converted a driving lay-in with nine minutes to go in the opening half to give MU a 17-15 lead.
A Womack triple and an Alexis Canady (Forestville, Md. /Bishop McNamara) lay-up pushed Monmouth's lead to 26-19 with five minutes remaining in the first period. After FDU's 7-0 scoring run knotted the contest at 26-26, Rooney's third three-pointer of the half gave MU back the lead. Mariyah Laury hit a lay-in as the first half came to a close to bring the Knights to within a point of the Hawks at 29-28.
Rooney led all scorers in the first half with 11 points, while Womack contributed eight. FDU, which got half of its first half points in the paint, was paced by Alyssa Mayrose's eight points.
After Fairleigh Dickinson tied the game at 45-45, four consecutive points from Broadus helped MU regain its advantage around the seven-minute mark of the contest. MU pushed its scoring run to 8-0 to ultimately take a 53-45 lead with five minutes to go in the game.
Allen tied a season-high with nine points, while Canady chipped in with eight points, seven rebounds and three assists. Broadus added six points and six rebounds for the Hawks.
Mayrose paced four Knights in double-figures with 14 points and nine rebounds. Esther Wallace recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 boards.
Monmouth and FDU renew acquaintances on Monday evening when the two face off at the Multipurpose Activity Center at 7:00 pm.
