Monmouth Hawks (4-11, 2-2 MAAC) – 62
Iona Gaels (0-16, 0-5 MAAC) – 56
 
NEW ROCHELLE, NY  – Outscoring Iona 15-5 in the fourth quarter, the Monmouth University women's basketball team earned their second straight MAAC win against Iona on Saturday, 62-56. Junior McKinzee Barker scored a career-high 17 points in the win, including four three-pointers. Senior Rhaiah Spooner-Knight scored 13 points to go along with six rebounds and leads the team with 10 games in double-figures, while sophomore Rosa Graham scored 10 points, including two late free throws. Junior Erica Balman added nine points and five rebounds in the win, while also matching a career high of four blocks. The Hawks improved to 4-11 (2-2 MAAC) on the season, and will return to the OceanFirst Bank Center for three straight home games against Quinnipiac, Canisius, and Iona.
 
NOTES AND QUOTES
"We were more aggressive defensively in the fourth quarter, and started to get some rebounds. Offensively, we just have kids like McKinzee here that make plays. She was key to giving us a spark and finding openings in their zone. Now we have to get ready for a tough three-game homestand." - Monmouth head coach Jody Craig
"Coached talked to us all week about jumping out to an early lead, and she wanted me to start looking for more shots. We're just trying to build from every game, and you can tell we're learning from our past mistakes. We're happy we were able to finish on the right side of this with a victory, and we're just going to try to use this game to move forward." -Junior guard McKinzee Barker
-Monmouth opened the game on a 10-2 run, but Iona closed the gap towards the end of the first quarter. After Iona ended the quarter with a 5-0 run, the Hawks led 19-17 after one.
-The teams traded buckets in the second quarter, and the Hawks were forced to call a timeout after five quick Iona points. With 3:15 left in the second quarter, Iona tied the game at 27.
-Iona's Alexis Lewis caught fire in the second quarter, hitting four three-pointers. Her buzzer-beater at the end of the frame gave the Gaels a 35-34 lead into halftime.
-With Iona up 51-44, Barker drilled her fourth triple of the game with time running out on the shot clock late in the third quarter. The score would remain heading into the final frame.
-The Hawks rattled off a 12-1 run in the fourth quarter to take a 59-54 lead with 2:03 remaining. In the end, Monmouth outscored Iona 15-5 in the final frame to take the win.

NUMBERS CRUNCH
-Barker drilled three triples in the first quarter alone, netting nine points in the opening frame.
-Coming into the contest averaging over 21 per game, Monmouth only had four turnovers in the first half and 12 in the game.
-The Hawks went 22-51 (43.1%) from the floor, which tied their best shooting performance of the season (at Clemson).
-Zelaya earned her fourth start of her career, and has started the last three contests.
-Alexis Lewis and Treyanna Clay scored 29 of Iona's 35 points in the first half. Lewis, Clay, and freshman Tyosi Abiola scored 54 of Iona's 56 points in the game.
-Going 10-12 today, Monmouth is now 21-26 (81%) from the free throw line over the last two games.
-For the first time this season, the Hawks had less turnovers than their opponent.

UP NEXT
The Hawks will continue MAAC play when they welcome defending MAAC champion and preseason favorite Quinnipiac on Thursday. Last season at the OceanFirst Bank Center, the Hawks stunned the Bobcats with a 61-58 win. Freshman Rosa Graham hit six free throws in the last 1:15 to secure the win, which snapped Quinnipiac's 8-0 MAAC record and seven-game winning streak. Freshman Kayla Shaw added 20 points on four three-pointers in the win.