Saint Peter's Peacocks (3-11, 0-3 MAAC) – 44
Monmouth Hawks (3-11, 1-2 MAAC) – 51
 
WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – Outscoring the Peacocks in the final three quarters, the Monmouth University women's basketball team defeated Saint Peter's for its first MAAC win of the season on Sunday afternoon, 51-44. Senior Rhaiah Spooner-Knight narrowly missed a double-double, scoring 13 points and grabbing nine rebounds. Already coming into the matchup leading the MAAC in rebounds per game with 39.9, the Hawks grabbed a season-high 51 in today's win. Sophomore Alaina Jarnot added 11 points, while sophomore Alexa Middleton grabbed nine rebounds. Monmouth head coach Jody Craig earned her first win since assuming head coaching duties on December 8. The Hawks improved to 3-11 (1-2 MAAC) on the season, and will travel to Iona (0-15, 0-4 MAAC) next Saturday.
 
NOTES AND QUOTES
"Our man defense was just stellar in the second half. We locked them down and made them make some tough shots. We forced them into situations late in the shot clock and rebounded very well. Our defense held its own and we were able to close. It was a really good step in the right direction today." - Monmouth head coach Jody Craig
-Saint Peter's opened the game on an 8-0 run, which was ended by a Spooner-Knight three-pointer.
-The Peacocks went on a 6-0 run late in the first quarter, and maintained an 18-13 lead after the first frame.
-The Hawks outscored Saint Peter's 12-8 in the second quarter, and trailed by just one at halftime by a 26-25 margin.
-In a low-scoring third quarter, Monmouth took the slight 9-6 edge. Heading into the last frame, the Hawks led 34-32.
-Three-pointers from Adriana Zelaya and Jarnot helped the Hawks to a 6-0 run to open the fourth quarter, and Saint Peter's was forced to call a timeout with 7:52 to play, trailing 40-32.
-Monmouth held on in the fourth quarter with a 17-12 advantage, and eventually took the 51-44 win.

NUMBERS CRUNCH
-Trailing 18-13 after the first quarter, Monmouth outscored Saint Peter's 38-26 in the final three.
-Spooner-Knight now leads the team with nine games in double-figures this season.
-Jarnot scored in double-figures for the first time this season and sixth time of her career.
-Middleton has 31 rebounds in the last three games.
-Monmouth held SPU to just 27.9% from the field and 20.0% from three.
-Already leading the conference in blocks, Erica Balman added another three today.
-Zelaya earned the start for the second straight game.
-The Hawks have committed more turnovers than their opponent in all 14 games this season (21 today).

UP NEXT
The Hawks will travel to Iona next Saturday to take on the Gaels, who recently fell to 0-15 (0-4 MAAC) on the season with a loss to Quinnipiac. Last season the teams split, with Monmouth earning the 75-65 win at home behind a career-high 19 points from Alaina Jarnot. McKinzee Barker added 16 points in the contest. In the road loss, Taylor Nason registered 12 points, seven rebounds, and four steals.