SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Freshman Christina Mitchell (Baltimore, Md./MATHS) compiled a double-double of a career-high 14 points and 13 rebounds, including a pivotal offensive rebound and putback in the final minute, as the ninth-seeded Monmouth University women's basketball team defeated No. 8 Niagara, 66-62, in the First Round of the MAAC Championships Thursday morning at the MassMutual Center. With the win, the Hawks improve to 8-24 and will face top-seeded Iona tomorrow at noon. The Purple Eagles end their season at 10-20.

The Hawks grabbed a season-high 18 offensive boards in outrebounding Niagara, 48-37. Mitchell had five of the Hawks' offensive rebounds, as did Sophie Beaudry (Chambly, Quebec/College-Notre Dame de Lourdes). Chevannah Paalvast (Auckland, New Zealand/Massey) added 12 points and four rebounds, while Helena Kurt (Spanga, Sweden/Igelstavikens Gymnasium) chipped in with 11 points and four assists. Jasmine Walker (North Brunswick, N.J./North Brunswick) and Mia Hopkins (Pittston, Pa./Pittston Area) also added eight points apiece.

Chanel Johnson had 14 points and six rebounds to lead Niagara. Meghan McGuinness added 13 points, while Taylor McKay and Val McQuade contributed 11 points apiece. Kelly Van Leeuwen dished out a game-high nine assists for the Purple Eagles.  

“I'm just cloud-nine excited right now,” said Monmouth Head Coach Jenny Palmateer. “I'm really happy for this group. We've been through a lot this year. It's been a lot of ups and downs. As the newbies to the conference and to be able to pull off a win against a very-talented Niagara team that has just caused us fits all season long, it's really great to be advancing in the tournament. I'm really happy that we're able to stay another day and experience this great MAAC Tournament.”

Niagara scored the game's first four points and extended to a six-point lead on a transition turnover by the Hawks that led to a McGuinness three at the 12:18 mark. Still down four with 6:50 remaining in the half, Beaudry's free throw at the 6:44 mark sparked a 10-0 Monmouth run. Kasey Chambers (Belmar, N.J./St. Rose) knocked down a three from the top of the key to tie the game at 21-21 with just over five minutes left in the half, while two Shira Shecht (Pardessiya, Israel/Hadassim) free throws at the 3:35 mark gave Monmouth its first lead of the game. Kurt's transition jumper in the paint and a nifty move along the baseline for a Mitchell lay-up completed the 10-0 run, putting the Hawks on top, 27-21, with 1:43 left in the half. Johnson scored the final three points of the half for Niagara to cut the Hawks' lead to 27-24 at the break.

Kurt led the Hawks with seven points at the half, while Mitchell had six points and four rebounds. Beaudry grabbed five of her six rebounds in the first half, including four on the offensive boards. Johnson led the Purple Eagles with eight first-half points, while McKay had four first-half assists and two steals.

A McQuade three-pointer to open the half tied the game at 27-27 and nine ties followed until the Purple Eagles went on an 8-0 run to take the largest lead of the game, 57-49, on a McGuiness three with 7:01 left in regulation. But the Hawks went on a 7-0 run to close the deficit to 57-56. Chambers buried a three from the wing to cap the run. A lay-up by McGuinness upped the Niagara lead to 59-56 with 4:24 left, before Hopkins' fast-break lay-up with 3:41 left cut it to 59-58.

Sara English (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown West [UMass]) made a nice post move to score and put the Hawks ahead, 60-59, with 3:07 left and Monmouth never trailed again. With 1:19 left, Hopkins buried a 14-foot jumper in the paint to push the lead to 62-59. After McKay made 1-of-2 free throws with 1:03 remaining, the Hawks exhausted the entire 30-second shot block before Paalvast's jumper at the buzzer wouldn't fall. But Mitchell was there for the offensive rebound and putback to give the Hawks a two-possession lead, 64-60, with 31 seconds left.

Johnson was fouled with 20 seconds left and made both free throws to cut the Hawks' lead to 64-62. Hopkins did the same on the other end to give Monmouth a 66-62 lead. Solid Monmouth defense resulted in a pair of misses for Niagara, with the rebound of the second being corralled by Shecht with 2.9 seconds left to effectively end the game. The senior missed the front end of the 1-and-1, but Niagara couldn't get off a shot before the final horn.

For the game, the Hawks outshot Niagara, 41.8 percent (28-67) to 35.9 percent (23-64) from the floor and 77.8 percent (7-9) to 69.2 percent (9-13) from the free-throw line. The Purple Eagles took a 36.8 percent (7-19) to 15.8 percent (3-19) edge from long range. Monmouth scored major advantages in points in the paint (38-18) and bench scoring (33-10).