WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - The Monmouth University women's basketball team defeated in-state rival Fairleigh Dickinson University, 67-48 on Monday evening at the Multipurpose Activity Center. The Hawks (17-8, 9-5 NEC) led from the 13:52 mark of the first half on, building a lead that grew to as many as 32 points with 11:40 left in the second half over the Knights (12-13, 5-9 NEC).
Erin Rooney (Christchurch, N.Z. /Marian College) led all Monmouth scorers with 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting, adding five rebounds, four steals and four assists with no turnovers. Alexis Canady (Forestville, Md. /Bishop McNamara) contributed 11 points (4-5 FG) and three assists with no turnovers, while Abby Martin (Maplewood, N.J/ Columbia) contributed 10 points and five rebounds.
MU shot 40.3% for the game, including 47.4% in the first half, and logged 17 assists in the contest on its 25 made field goals. Nine Hawks recorded at least two points, while 13 grabbed at least one rebound. The Hawks turned FDU's 21 turnovers into 24 points in the game, and M's bench outscored the Knights', 26-19.
Martin converted a putback to square the contest at 6-6, then received a nice feed from Adriana Allen (Ajax, Ont. /Pickering) to give MU its first lead on its next possession with 13:52 left in the first half. Shira Shecht (Pardessiya, Israel /Hadassim) pushed the Hawks' lead to 19-10 with a successful three-pointer at the 11:26 mark of the first half.
Rooney swished through a triple from the left corner to extend Monmouth's lead to 34-19 with 4:29 left before halftime. The Hawks, behind a balanced first-scoring attack, shot a shade under 50% in the first half en route to a 45-21 intermission lead.
The Hawks' lead swelled to 30 points at 57-27 after Gabby Singer (Harrisburg, Pa. /Central Dauphin) connected on a jumper with 14:15 left in regulation.
Alysha Womack (Springfield, Pa. /Cardinal O'Hara) added eight points and four assists while Allen chipped in with seven points and six rebounds. Shecht tied a career-high with six points.
Danielle Pankey led FDU, which shot 33.3% for the contest, with 10 points.
MU returns to action on Saturday when it hosts Robert Morris at 3:00 pm.
