Box Score WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Helena Kurt (Spanga, Sweden/Igelstavikens Gymnasium) tied her career high with 15 points and added five rebounds as the Monmouth University women's basketball team stifled Fairfield, 59-33, Sunday afternoon at the Multipurpose Activity Center. The Hawks (8-11, 4-6 MAAC) limited the Stags (7-12, 6-4 MAAC) to just 20.0 percent (11-55) shooting from the floor and a season-low 33 points. The 33 points are also the fewest allowed by the Hawks in nearly five years, when Monmouth defeated St. Francis Brooklyn, 65-50 on Feb. 18, 2010.

“I was really happy with our defense. We had a game plan going in and I felt like, probably from start to finish, this is the best that we've executed our game plan for close to 40 minutes,” said Monmouth Head Coach Jenny Palmateer. “Everybody that went in was really focused and sharp on the defensive end. We're a team that's been struggling to shoot the ball. Today we shot it better. We got off to a quicker start and our shots were falling and coming a little easier. Add that defensive effort and we were able to beat a really quality team like Fairfield.”

Jasmine Walker (North Brunswick, N.J./North Brunswick) also contributed 12 points and eight rebounds for the Hawks, while Amanda Offenback (Delran, N.J./Holy Cross) added six points and a career-high nine rebounds in her first-career start. Christina Mitchell (Baltimore, Md./MATHS) had seven points, including 2-for-2 from long range, and added four rebounds in just 10 minutes due to early foul trouble. Jamiyah Bethune (Union, N.J./Union [Penn State]) also chipped in with five points and a team-high five assists.

Fairfield was led by Casey Smith, Kelsey Carey and Kristin Schatzlein, all of whom scored five points. Carey also added five rebounds, while Smith dished out three assists. Samantha Cooper grabbed six rebounds, but shot just 1-for-12 from the floor. Smith and Schatzlein had two blocks apiece.

The Hawks led from wire to wire, scoring seven of the game's first eight points and never took their foot off the gas pedal. Kristine Miller made a lay-up and Smith made 1-of-2 free throws to cut the Hawks' lead to 7-4 before the Hawks built a double-digit lead with an 7-2 spurt that began with a Kurt jumper and ended with a three-pointer from the sophomore at the 7:03 mark.

The Hawks' lead dipped back into single digits for a total of just 1:48 of total game time the rest of the way as Monmouth gradually upped its lead to the final 26-point margin.

Fairfield cut the deficit to eight points on Cooper's lay-up with 16:25 remaining and a lay-up from Helena Orts at the 13:54 mark. But an 11-2 Monmouth run effectively put the game out of reach. Jenny Horvatinovic (Red Lion, Pa./Red Lion Area) scored  on consecutive trips off Bethune assists to spark the run, before Bethune hit a left corner three and Sara English (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown West [UMass]) connected on a baby hook at the 9:06 mark to cap the run.

The closest the Stags would get the rest of the way was within 15 points, 41-26, at the 8:43 mark. Monmouth limited Fairfield to just 17.9 percent (5-28) shooting from the floor in the second half.

For the game, Monmouth outshot Fairfield, 36.5 percent (19-52) to 20.0 percent (11-55) from the floor, 28.6 percent (6-21) to 10.0 percent (2-20) from long range and 78.9 percent (15-19) to 50.0 percent (9-18) from the free-throw line. The Hawks punished the Stags on the boards, taking a 53-31 advantage.

The Hawks wrap up a four-game home stand Friday afternoon, when they play host to Canisius. Opening tip of the Kids' Day matinee is scheduled for noon at the Multipurpose Activity Center.