Box Score WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. –
Helena Kurt (Spanga, Sweden/Igelstavikens Gymnasium) scored a game-high 14 points and dished out four assists, but the Monmouth University women's basketball team fell to Niagara, 59-45, Sunday afternoon at the Multipurpose Activity Center. Niagara used a 17-0 run covering more than 10 minutes of game time to move to 8-9 (4-4 MAAC). The Hawks fall to 7-10 (3-5 MAAC) with the loss.
The Hawks struggled to score on the afternoon, shooting just 27.1 percent (16-59) from the floor and scoring just 17 points in the second half.
Jenny Horvatinovic (Red Lion, Pa./Red Lion Area) contributed seven points for the Hawks, while
Christina Mitchell (Baltimore, Md./MATHS) had six.
Sophie Beaudry (Chambly, Quebec/College Dawson) grabbed a team-high seven rebounds and blocked three shots.
Meghan McGuinness, Taylor McKay and Kaylee Stroemple had 13 points apiece to lead Niagara. Sam Lapszynski added a game-high eight rebounds, while McKay had seven rebounds and McGuinness grabbed six caroms. Donisha Watson blocked a game-high four shots.
Niagara used a pair of runs to take a 35-28 lead into the halftime break. Trailing 11-10, Niagara scored 10 straight points, capped by a Stroemple free throw, to take a 20-11 lead at the 11:06 mark. The Hawks gradually whittled away at the deficit until
Sarah Olson's (Freehold, N.J./Howell [NJIT]) driving left-handed lay-up made it 29-28 Niagara with 2:58 left in the half. Niagara then scored the final six points of the period to take a seven-point lead at the half.
McGuinness led Niagara with 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting from the floor, including 2-of-3 from long distance. McKay and Stroemple added seven points apiece. Kurt led Monmouth with eight points at the half.
The Niagara lead extended to 46-28 and the run stretched to 17-0 as Niagara scored the first 11 points of the second half. Niagara's Victoria Rampado scored six of her eight points in the early second-half portion of the run.
Rachel Odumu (Manassas, Va./Miller School of Albemarle) knocked down a jumper with her toe on the three-point line to snap the run at the 12:18 mark.
Kurt knocked down a three from the right wing with 4:01 left as part of five-straight Monmouth points to cut the deficit to 55-43 with 3:13 left. But the Hawks could draw no closer, as Niagara closed out the victory.
For the game, Niagara outshot Monmouth, 40.4 percent (23-57) to 27.1 percent (16-59) from the floor and 45.5 percent (5-11) to 22.2 percent (6-27) from long range. Monmouth took a 63.6 percent (7-11) to 57.1 percent (8-14) edge from the free-throw line. Niagara outrebounded Monmouth, 46-36. Niagara outscored Monmouth, 28-14, in the paint and 16-7 on second-chance points.
The Hawks continue their longest home stand of the year (four games) Thursday, when they play host to Siena. Tipoff from the Multipurpose Activity Center is scheduled for 7 p.m. on ESPN3.
