WOMEN'S BASKETBALL FALLS IN FINAL SECONDS AT NIAGARA, 68-65
 
Monmouth Hawks (8-19, 6-10 MAAC) – 65
Niagara Purple Eagles (11-16, 8-8 MAAC) – 68
 
NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, NY  – Despite a career-high 22 points from sophomore Alexa Middleton, the Monmouth University women's basketball team was outlasted at Niagara on Sunday afternoon, 68-65. Sophomore Rosa Graham drilled a three-pointer with 53 seconds left, and the Hawks trailed by just one at 66-65. Niagara's Victoria Rampado (27 points, 10 rebounds) went 2-of-4 from the line in the final seconds, and Monmouth's Kayla Shaw attempted a three-pointer to tie it with time expiring that was just off the mark. Middleton added nine rebounds in her career game, and was 9-of-16 from the floor. Senior Dana Carbone registered her best game of the season, scoring 11 points (4-6 FG) in 13 minutes. The Hawks drop to 8-19 (6-10 MAAC) on the season, and will host Fairfield on Friday night for the penultimate regular season contest.
 
NOTES AND QUOTES
 "We showed a lot of fight today and played hard, but turnovers once again hurt us in the third quarter. It's hard to give away opportunities to win the same way over and over again." – Monmouth head coach Jody Craig
-Monmouth started the first quarter off strong, building an 11-point lead late in the frame. By the end of the quarter, the Hawks led 20-11. Shaw hit two threes in the quarter, while Middleton rattled off five points and five boards.
-Despite being outscored 16-12 in the second quarter, the Hawks still maintained a 32-27 lead at the half. Monmouth shot 42% in the first half and held the Purple Eagles to 31%.
-Niagara took a 41-40 lead midway through the third quarter, but Middleton's and-one later tied the game at 45.
-The Purple Eagles rattled off a 6-0 run to regain the 51-45 lead, forcing Monmouth to call a timeout. Four points from senior Dana Carbone cut into the lead, and by the end of the third quarter, Niagara led 52-49.
-In a back-and-forth final quarter, both teams scored 16 points. Four different times, Monmouth cut the deficit to one in the fourth quarter. Two late free throws eventually gave Niagara the three-point win.
 
NUMBERS CRUNCH
-Middleton's previous career high was 14, and she scored 22 today.
-Monmouth outrebounded the Purple Eagles, 49-36.
-Junior Erica Balman scored 10 points and grabbed seven rebounds in the loss. She also had another block today, and has a MAAC-leading 57 on the season.
-The Hawks dropped to 1-12 on the road this season.
-Sophomore Taylor Nason dished five assists to go along with six rebounds.
-Monmouth was 41.3% from the floor, while Niagara was 35.7%.
-The Hawks' bench held the 32-10 advantage.
-Monmouth was 8-of-10 from the free throw line on the day.
 
UP NEXT
Monmouth will host Fairfield on Friday for the home finale. In Connecticut earlier this season, Rosa Graham drilled a deep three with 0.7 seconds left to send the game to overtime, but the Stags eventually pulled out the 61-55 victory. Following Friday's game, the Hawks will travel to Quinnipiac on February 25 for the regular season finale.