WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - Sara English (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown West [UMass]) and Carly Thibault (East Lyme, Conn./East Lyme) had 14 points apiece, a career-high for English, as the Monmouth University women's basketball team defeated Robert Morris, 58-47, Saturday afternoon at the Multipurpose Activity Center. With the win, the Hawks improve to 5-9 (2-1 NEC), while the Colonials fall to 3-11 (2-1 NEC).

Gabby Singer (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) added five points, a career-high 10 rebounds, and four assists for the Hawks. Chevannah Paalvast (Auckland, New Zealand/Massey) chipped in six points and eight rebounds, while Betsy Gadziala (Whitesboro, N.Y./Whitesboro) contributed seven points. Alysha Womack (Springfield, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) made her return after missing the last four games due to injury, scoring four points in a limited role (12 minutes).

Artemis Spanou led Robert Morris with 14 points and a career-high 21 rebounds, but the Hawks held the All-NEC standout to just 5-for-24 shooting, including 0-for-7 from long range. Spanou also had a game-high five assists. Randi Jackson also added 13 points for the Colonials.

Neither team could establish more than three points of separation until MU went on an 11-0 run to take a 22-13 lead at the 10:21 mark of the first half. English led a balanced MU attack with four points in the stretch. After RMU pulled back to within two points, 25-23, MU closed the half with nine of the final 11 points to take a 34-25 lead into the break. Four different Hawks scored in the run. Thibault led the Hawks with nine points at the break on 3-of-4 from long range. Kelly Hartwell led the Colonials with eight points in 17 minutes off the bench.

Robert Morris gradually whittled the Hawks' lead down to four, 43-39, before the Hawks went on a 7-0 run, including a pair of English buckets to take an 11-point lead, 50-39, with 8:05 remaining. The Colonials weren't done, however, as Robert Morris went on an 8-0 run to cut the deficit to three. But the Hawks continued to feed English in the post and the sophomore forward converted a pair of lay-ups to put the game out of reach. A pair of free throws each from Thibault and Singer closed the game and accounted for the final 11-point margin.

For the game, the Hawks outshot the Colonials, 36.4 percent (20-55) to 27.7 percent (18-65) from the floor, 31.8 percent (7-22) to 21.7 percent (5-23) from long range and 68.8 percent (11-16) to 35.3 percent (6-17) from the free-throw line. Robert Morris took a 48-44 edge on the boards, while the Hawks took a 22-12 advantage in points off the bench.

The Hawks continue Northeast Conference play Monday afternoon against Saint Francis (Pa.). Opening tip from the MAC is scheduled for noon.