STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - Chevannah Paalvast (Auckland, New Zealand/Massey) scored a
career-high 24 points and matched her career high with eight rebounds as the Monmouth
University women's basketball team defeated Wagner, 81-64, Monday night at the
Spiro Sports Center. With the win, the Hawks improve to 4-9 (1-1 NEC), while
the Seahawks fall to 1-12 (0-2 NEC). The Hawks grabbed a season-high 59
rebounds in the contest, outrebounding the Seahawks, 59-27.
Abigail Martin (Maplewood,
N.J./Columbia) registered the ninth double-double of her career, her first of
the year, with 14 points and a season-high 14 rebounds. Shira Shecht
(Pardessiya, Israel/Hadassim) tied her career high with 12 points while making
her first start of the season. Betsy Gadziala (Whitesboro, N.Y./Whitesboro)
tied her career high with 13 rebounds. Gabby Singer (Harrisburg, Pa./Central
Dauphin) added a season-high 10 points and a career-high six assists, while Carly
Thibault (East Lyme, Conn./East Lyme) narrowly missed double figures with nine
points.
Marie-Laurent Archambault led
Wagner with 15 points and four assists, while Laura Amorosa had finished with
11 points and three steals. Jordyn Peck had nine points, while Veronick
Fournier chipped in with eight points and eight rebounds.
A back-and-forth first half
that saw seven lead changes concluded with the Hawks on top, 44-35. The 44
points established the most points scored in the initial stanza of a game for
the Hawks so far this year, and is the second-most on the season behind a
46-point second half against High Point on Nov. 30. Wagner took a 24-20 lead on
Amorosa's three-pointer at the 7:24 mark of the first half. But back-to-back
three-pointers by Singer and Shecht gave the lead back to the Hawks, an
advantage they would not relinquish the rest of the way.
The Hawks outscored the Seahawks,
8-2, including back-to-back three-pointers from Singer and Thibault over the final
2:15 of the half to take a 44-35 lead into the break at halftime. Paalvast led
the Hawks with 12 points at the half, while Martin added nine points and eight
rebounds in the initial stanza for Monmouth. The Hawks outrebounded Wagner,
34-11, in the first half, and took a 14-0 advantage in second-chance points.
Peck led Wagner with nine points at the break, while Amorosa and Jacqui
Thompson were close behind with eight and seven points, respectively.
Wagner closed to within two
points, 53-51, with a 9-0 run capped by a Fournier lay-up. But the Hawks
responded with an 8-0 run and the Seahawks couldn't close to within fewer than
six points the rest of the way. The Hawks gradually built their lead to as many
as 18 points.
For the game, the Hawks
outshot the Seahawks, 43.9 percent (29-66) to 37.9 percent (22-58) from the floor
and 40.9 percent (9-22) to 23.8 percent (5-21) from long range. Wagner took a
68.2 percent (15-22) to 53.8 percent (14-26) edge from the free-throw line. Monmouth
outscored the Seahawks, 18-4, on second-chance points.
The Hawks return home to
continue Northeast Conference play Saturday against Robert Morris. Opening tip
from the MAC is scheduled for 3 p.m.
