WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - The Monmouth University women's basketball team defeated Robert Morris University, 64-55 in Northeast Conference action on Saturday afternoon at the Multipurpose Activity Center. The Hawks (18-8, 10-5 NEC) have now won three straight league contests, while the Colonials (13-12, 10-5) have now dropped three straight NEC affairs for just the third time since the 2004-05 season.

MU led by as many as 15 points with 14:58 left in the second half en route to the win. The contest featured seven lead changes and four ties, all in the first half.

Erin Rooney (Christchurch, N.Z. /Marian College) paced the Hawks with a career-best 22 points on 7-of-11 shooting. Alysha Womack (Springfield, Pa. /Cardinal O'Hara) added 17 points and four steals in the contest.

The Hawks assumed an 11-8 lead after junior Alexis Canady (Forestville, Md. /Bishop McNamara) converted a pair of free throws with 13:22 left in the first half. MU increased its lead to 19-14 after Womack intercepted pass near half court and scored on a fast break lay-in with 8:47 remaining in the opening half.

Monmouth carried a 33-28 advantage into the halftime locker room behind 10 points from Rooney. The Hawks used a 12-2 scoring run, with four points from Womack, to extend their advantage to 45-30 five minutes into the second half.

RMU used a brief scoring run to cut Monmouth's lead to 48-42, but a Rooney trifecta boosted the Hawks' advantage back to nine points with 7:39 left in regulation.

The Colonials placed three players in double figures, led by Destiny Harrison's 13 points. Artemis Spanou chipped in with 11 points and a game-high 14 rebounds.

MU returns to action on Monday evening when it hosts Saint Francis University at 7:00 pm.