Box Score WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – Junior center Christina Mitchell (Baltimore, MD/MATHS) posted a double-double of 13 points and a career-high 21 rebounds, but the Monmouth University women's basketball team fell to Siena, 69-63, in the conference opener for both teams Friday night at the Multipurpose Activity Center. With the loss, the Hawks fall to 1-4 (0-1 MAAC), while the Saints improve to 2-5 (1-0 MAAC).

Mitchell grabbed seven of her 21 rebounds on the offensive glass, while also blocking a game-high four shots. Jamiyah Bethune (Union, NJ/Union [Penn State]) scored a game-high 16 points and added seven rebounds and three steals, while Tyese Purvis (Queens, NY/Francis Lewis [Monroe C.C.]) chipped in with 14 points, including 4-of-10 shooting from long range. McKinzee Barker (Bomont, WV/Clay County) had a strong all-around game with nine points, six assists, five rebounds and four steals in 38 minutes played.

Kollyns Scarbrough led Siena with 16 points, four assists and three steals, while Jackie Benitez added 15 points, five rebounds and four steals. Denisha Petty-Evans also finished in double figures with 10 points, while Meghan Donohue narrowly missed a double-double with eight points and 10 rebounds. Though both teams turned the ball over 23 times on the night, Siena made the most of its takeaways to the tune of a 27-9 discrepancy in points off turnovers.

The Hawks got off to a fast start, scoring on a Sarah Olson (Freehold, NJ/Howell [NJIT]) lay-up off the opening tip before extending to a 5-2 lead on a Barker three. Following back-and-forth action, the Hawks retook a 14-12 lead on a Purvis triple with 1:47 left in the first quarter before the Saints scored seven straight to end the initial stanza with a 19-14 lead.

Monmouth got a fast-break lay-up from Bethune to open the second-quarter scoring before consecutive Petty-Evans three-pointers gave Siena its largest lead of the half (nine points, 25-16)  and initiated a Hawks timeout. Monmouth scored the next four points on a Mitchell putback and two Jasmine Walker (North Brunswick, NJ/North Brunswick) free throws to cut the deficit to five. But Siena outscored Monmouth, 5-2, over the final four minutes to take a 30-22 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Mitchell led the Hawks with eight points and seven rebounds at the break, while Bethune also grabbed seven boards. Barker added five points and three assists. Scarbrough matched Mitchell with eight points for Siena, while Petty-Evans finished the half with six points. While Siena turned the ball over 12 times to the Hawks' 10 turnovers, the Saints enjoyed a 12-4 advantage in points off turnovers.

The Siena lead swelled to double-digits in the first minute of the third quarter before the Hawks went on a 9-0 run to close the deficit to one. Walker and Bethune got things started with lay-ups before Purvis nailed a three. Bethune capped the run with a pair of free throws to make it 34-33 Siena with 5:40 to go in the period. After the two teams exchanged a Donohue lay-up and two Purvis free throws, the Saints went on an 8-0 run to create separation. Benitez scored the first six points of the run with a three-point play and a three-point field goal.

Monmouth whittled the Saints' lead down to four on another Purvis three-pointer at the 7:19 mark of the fourth quarter, but could draw no closer. Siena built its lead to as many as 12 points, 61-49, on a Symone Kelly lay-up with 3:14 remaining. Five points in the final minute of play from Bethune helped Monmouth draw to within six twice, including the final score.

For the game, the Saints outshot the Hawks, 38.1 percent (24-63) to 30.9 percent (21-68) from the floor, including a 33.3 percent (6-18) to 17.2 percent (5-29) edge from long range. The Hawks took an 80.0 percent (16-20) to 68.2 percent (15-22) advantage from the free-throw line, while Siena edged Monmouth, 46-45, on the boards.  

The Hawks return to conference action Sunday, when they play host to Niagara. Tip-off from the Multipurpose Activity Center is scheduled for 2 p.m. on ESPN3.