WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - Led by Alysha Womack's (Springfield, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) career-high 27 points, the Monmouth University women's basketball team erased an 11-point deficit to defeat Robert Morris, 75-66, for its seventh-straight victory Saturday afternoon at the Multipurpose Activity Center. Womack's 27 points propelled the Hawks' bench to a season-high 47 points. With the win, Monmouth improves to 10-8 (5-2 NEC), while the Colonials fall to 9-9 (3-4 NEC).

Carly Thibault (East Lyme, Conn./East Lyme) scored nine points on a perfect 3-for-3 shooting from the floor, including 2-for-2 from long range. Alexis Canady (Forestville, Md./Bishop McNamara) added nine points, five rebounds and five assists, while Chevannah Paalvast (Auckland, New Zealand/Massey) had seven. Abby Martin (Maplewood, N.J./Columbia) had six points and a team-high seven rebounds, while Chanel Gomez (Perth Amboy, N.J./Perth Amboy [Brookdale C.C.]) chipped in six points, four rebounds and two steals in eight productive minutes off the bench. Gena Broadus (Washington, D.C./Archbishop Carroll [George Mason]) dished out a career-high five assists.

Artemis Spanou led Robert Morris with 16 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and two steals. Mary Durojaye, April Williams and Anna Gailite added 11 points apiece for the Colonials.  

The Colonials took a four-point lead into the locker room at halftime following five lead changes in the initial stanza. The Hawks established a five-point advantage in the early going before Robert Morris stormed back to take a 15-14 lead on Gailite's lay-up at the 9:34 mark. After the teams exchanged the lead and RMU held a 21-20 edge, the Colonials went on a 10-0 run to take a 31-20 advantage at the 5:07 mark. The Hawks scored 13 of the final 19 points of the half to cut the deficit to four points, 37-33, at the break.

Womack scored an efficient 10 points on 3-for-4 from the floor and 4-for-4 from the free-throw line to lead all scorers at the half. Williams and Gailite had nine each for the Colonials, while Spanou added eight.

After the Colonials extended the lead to six points, 39-33, on Catherine Matthews' putback to open the second-half scoring, the Hawks scored nine-straight points to take a three-point lead, 42-39, on Canady's two free throws with 16:05 remaining. A Briannica Tye jumper cut immediately cut the deficit to one, but the Colonials would never lead again. After the Hawks pushed the advantage to eight points, 57-49, with a Womack four-point play and another jumper by the junior guard, Robert Morris scored the next six points and again cut the lead to two points. But the Colonials would draw no closer.

The Hawks forced 10 of Robert Morris' 18 turnovers in the second half, while committing just three of their 12 giveaways in the final stanza. For the game, the Colonials took a 37.7 percent (23-61) to 36.9 percent (24-65) edge from the floor, while edging the Hawks, 85.0 percent (17-20) to 75.0 percent (21-28) from the free-throw line. Monmouth shot 46.2 percent (6-13) from long range to best the Colonials' 15.0 percent (3-20). The Hawks' bench outscored Robert Morris' reserves, 47-18. Robert Morris took a 42-41 edge on the glass.

The Hawks return to NEC action Monday night, when they play host to defending NEC Champion Saint Francis (Pa.). Opening tip from the MAC is scheduled for 7 p.m.