WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Jenny Horvatinovic (Red Lion, Pa./Red Lion Area) had eight points and a season-high 10 rebounds, but the Monmouth University women's basketball team was defeated by Niagara, 85-57, Saturday afternoon at the Multipurpose Activity Center. With the loss, the Hawks fall to 6-23 (5-13 MAAC), while the Purple Eagles improve to 9-18 (7-11 MAAC).

Chevannah Paalvast (Auckland, New Zealand/Massey), Sara English (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown West [UMass]) and Jasmine Walker (North Brunswick, N.J./North Brunswick) added nine points apiece for the Hawks. English grabbed six rebounds, while Walker had five boards. Kasey Chambers (Belmar, N.J./St. Rose) contributed seven points and a game-high five assists, while Christina Mitchell (Baltimore, Md./MATHS) had six points.

Victoria Rampado and Meghan McGuinness had 20 points apiece for Niagara. Rampado also grabbed nine rebounds. Taylor McKay added 13 points and five assists, while Chanel Johnson had 12 points. Kelly Van Leeuwen had six points and five assists, while Sylvia Maxwell added seven points and six rebounds.

“I thought we got off to a pretty slow start offensively today,” said Monmouth Head Coach Jenny Palmateer. “Unfortunately, I think it affected everything for us. We were able to hang a little bit. Considering how we were playing in the first half, I wasn't totally displeased with where we were to start the second half. I thought we were still in a pretty good position to play well and win the game. We faced a little bit of adversity early in the second half and I think it just got the best of us.”

After English scored in the post on the Hawks' opening possession of the game, Niagara went on a 10-0 run, capped by a three-point play by Rampado at the 16:26 mark. The Hawks gradually worked the deficit down to 14-11 on a Mia Hopkins (Pittston, Pa./Pittston Area) three-pointer at the 11:45 mark. The Purple Eagles pushed the lead up to as many as nine points on two occasions in the first half before Monmouth cut the Niagara lead to seven, 35-28, on a Chambers transition jumper with just over a minute left in the half.

Rampado led the Purple Eagles with eight points and five rebounds at the break, while Johnson added seven points. Paalvast led the Hawks with six points, two assists and two steals. English and Hopkins added five points apiece, while Horvatinovic had six rebounds at the break.

Two English free throws cut the Hawks' deficit to 35-30 at the outset of the second half, but Monmouth would draw no closer.  Niagara scored 14 of the next 18 points to push their lead to 49-35 with 13:42 left to play. Four straight points from Mitchell within 14 seconds as part of a 7-0 MU run cut the deficit to 49-42 with 12:35 left to play. But Niagara methodically worked its lead up as many as 28 points, 85-57, on two Sam Lapszynski free throws with 10 seconds left.

For the game, Niagara outshot the Hawks, 43.8 percent (28-64) to 36.5 percent (23-63) from the floor, 50.0 percent (9-18) to 33.3 percent (5-15) from long range and 83.3 percent (20-24) to 54.5 percent (6-11) from the free-throw line. The Hawks edged Niagara, 41-40, on the boards, but turned the ball over 20 times to the Purple Eagles' 10. The turnover discrepancy resulted in a 22-12 Niagara edge in points off turnovers.  

The Hawks return to MAAC action Friday when they travel to Marist. Opening tip from Poughkeepsie, N.Y., is scheduled for 7 p.m.