LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. – Jasmine Walker (North Brunswick, N.J./North Brunswick) had a career-high 20 points and 13 rebounds for her second-career double-double, but the Monmouth University women's basketball team fell at HourGlass Rival Rider, 74-64, Wednesday night at Alumni Gym. With the loss, the Hawks fall to 6-22 (5-12 MAAC), while the Broncs improve to 13-13 (9-8 MAAC).

Walker did her damage on 6-of-11 shooting from the floor, including a conversion on her only three-point attempt, and 7-of-9 from the free-throw line. Her other double-double this season (13 points, 10 rebounds) also came against Rider on Jan. 5 in West Long Branch. Sara English (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown West [UMass]) added 10 points and six rebounds, while Chevannah Paalvast (Auckland, New Zealand/Massey) had nine points, five rebounds and three steals. Danica Dragicevic (Belgrade, Serbia/XV Beogradska Gimnazija) and Jenny Horvatinovic (Red Lion, Pa./Red Lion Area) chipped in with six points apiece, while Helena Kurt (Spanga, Sweden/Igelstavikens Gymnasium) contributed five points and a career-high five assists.

MyNeshia McKenzie had a game-high 23 points and 15 rebounds, while Mikal Johnson added 13 points and four assists for Rider. Kornelija Valiuskyte added nine points and five assists, while Manon Pellet had eight points and four assists.

“I'm really happy for Jas Walker. She was able to have her career high in rebounds and points today,” said Monmouth Head Coach Jenny Palmateer. “But really the biggest thing to me was that she played with such confidence. That was the first time probably since she's been here that she actually has felt that. She became our go-to person down the stretch. I was really glad that she got to experience that because I feel like she's going to be able to be that person for us, hopefully a lot, in the future.”  

Rider immediately jumped out to a 10-3 lead in the early going with four different Broncs burying field goals. The Hawks scored eight of the next 10 points to cut the deficit to one. Horvatinovic got the spurt started with a high-arcing three-pointer from the top of the key, before Walker scored a lay-up and a three-pointer to cap the run. Rider surged back ahead by five points on two occasions, before the Hawks scored five-straight points on a Kasey Chambers (Belmar, N.J./St. Rose) three-pointer and a Paalvast fast-break lay-up to take their first lead of the game, 24-23, with 7:45 left in the period. Five lead changes later, Rider scored five-straight points to end the half with a 36-32 advantage.

Monmouth outrebounded Rider, 21-15, including an 8-4 edge on the offensive glass to take a 9-4 edge in second-chance points in the first half. Walker led the Hawks with eight points and eight rebounds in the first half for Monmouth. Paalvast added six points, while Horvatinovic had five. McKenzie led Rider with 10 points and five rebounds in the initial stanza.

After Kurt scored a lay-up at the 18:55 mark of the second half to cut the deficit to 36-34, Rider pushed its lead to six points, 42-36, on six-straight free throws. Officials whistled Monmouth for seven of the first eight fouls in the first four minutes and 49 seconds of the second half, putting the Broncs in the bonus and the Hawks in serious foul trouble.

Later in the half, Monmouth trailed by five, 47-42, before Rider went on a 7-0 run to take a 54-42 lead with 10:32 left to play. The Rider lead swelled to 65-51 with 6:18 left, before a 7-0 Monmouth run gave the Hawks new life. Two English free throws with 1:22 left cut the deficit to five, 69-64, but Rider scored the game's final five points to put the game away.

For the game, Rider outshot the Hawks, 44.6 percent (25-56) to 38.5 percent (20-52), including a 60.0 percent (9-15) to 40.0 percent (4-10) edge from long range. Monmouth took a 74.1 percent (20-27) to 71.4 percent (15-21) cushion from the free-throw line. The Broncs edged the Hawks, 37-36, on the glass.     

The Hawks return to MAAC action Saturday when they play host to Niagara. Opening tip from the Multipurpose Activity Center is scheduled for 4 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN3.com. Saturday's game is also part of Monmouth's National Girls and Women in Sports Day celebration.