Canisius Golden Griffins (6-13, 4-4 MAAC) – 60
Monmouth Hawks (4-13, 2-4 MAAC) – 48
 
WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ  – Holding the Hawks to just 15-54 (27.8%) from the floor, Canisius defeated the Monmouth University women's basketball team on Saturday afternoon, 60-48. After the Hawks took a 10-3 lead to open the game, the Golden Griffins outscored Monmouth 16-3 to close the quarter and never looked back. Senior Rhaiah Spooner-Knight scored 12 points with six rebounds in the loss, and leads the team with 11 games in double-figures this season. Junior Erica Balman grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds, and has at least 10 rebounds in five games this year. Monmouth drops to 4-13 (2-4 MAAC) on the season, and will host its third home game in five days on Monday against Iona.
 
NOTES AND QUOTES
"Canisius is a good team, just like everyone we play. We were a little out of rhythm with what we were doing and off-script in what our plays are designed to look for. This one is tough, because we made it hard on ourselves to win the game." - Monmouth head coach Jody Craig
-The Hawks stormed out to a 10-3 lead early in the first quarter, forcing Canisius to take its first timeout. However, Canisius used an 11-0 run out of the timeout to take a 16-12 lead.
-Canisius eventually ended the second quarter on a 14-1 run, and took a 19-13 lead into the second quarter.
-Monmouth did not score a field goal for a span of 10 minutes and 50 seconds in the first and second quarters, but Rhaiah Spooner-Knight's three-pointer cut the deficit to just four at 22-18.
-The teams combined to shoot 19-65 (29%) in the first half, and Canisius held onto a 28-23 lead at halftime.
-In the third quarter, Canisius used a 16-2 run to go ahead 46-31. Monmouth was forced to call a timeout with 4:01 left in the third. They eventually outscored the Hawks 20-12 in the frame, and took a 48-35 lead into the fourth.
-The Golden Griffins held off the Hawks in the fourth quarter, and despite Monmouth's 13-12 advantage, Canisius eventually took the 60-48 win.
 
NUMBERS CRUNCH
-Kayla Shaw scored in double-figures for the ninth time this season and 28^th of her career with 10 points today.
-Adriana Zelaya earned her fifth start of the season, and scored the first bucket of the game on a long two.
-Sophomore Alexa Middleton added eight points and seven rebounds in the loss.
-Monmouth was 4-21 (19%) from beyond the arc.
-Junior McKinzee Barker grabbed a season-high eight rebounds.
-Balman blocked another three shots today. She leads the MAAC with 36 blocks on the season.
 
UP NEXT
The Hawks will host their third MAAC game in five days when Iona comes to the OceanFirst Bank Center on Monday night. On January 13, Monmouth earned the 62-56 win behind a career-high 17 points from junior McKinzee Barker. Senior Rhaiah Spooner-Knight added 13 points and six rebounds in the win.