Fairfield Stags (12-16, 9-8 MAAC) – 65
Monmouth Hawks (9-19, 7-10 MAAC) – 73
 
WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ  – Behind Rhaiah Spooner-Knight's 24 points and eight rebounds on senior night, the Monmouth University women's basketball earned the win over Fairfield in its home finale, 73-65. For the first time this season, Monmouth scored over 70 points, notching one of its best shooting performances of the season. The Hawks went 48.1% (25-52) from the field, 58.8% (10-17) from beyond the arc, and 92.9% (13-14) from the free throw line. After being outscored 18-14 in the first quarter, Monmouth held the 59-47 advantage over the final three frames. Junior McKinzee Barker added 12 points in the win, while junior Erica Balman grabbed 10 rebounds. The Hawks improved to 9-19 (7-10 MAAC) on the season, and will travel to Quinnipiac on Sunday for the regular season finale.
 
NOTES AND QUOTES
 "Our belief in each other secured this win tonight. The communication defensively was tremendous, and it was one of our best efforts on that end of the floor. We played as a team, got the ball to the right people, and stayed within ourselves as a group. I loved to see our seniors go out on a positive note here and represent the people they are." – Monmouth head coach Jody Craig
"It was so much fun. We came out hyped and wanted to get this win. This is great momentum, and we're peaking at the right time." – Spooner-Knight
-Fairfield led by as many as eight with 4:02 left in the first quarter, but Monmouth closed the gap. At the end of the first, the Stags led 18-14.
-With 6:34 left in the second quarter, Barker tied the game at 23 with a long jumper. Fairfield used a 6-0 run immediately after to go in front 29-23. Four straight points from Spooner-Knight brought it back to a two-point deficit.
-At halftime, Fairfield held the slight advantage over Monmouth at 31-30. Spooner-Knight, Jarnot, and Barker combined for 26 points on 10-12 shooting.
-Barker converted an and-one, giving Monmouth the three-point lead with 7:18 left in the third. After Carbone hit her second three of the game, Monmouth regained the lead at 47-46 with 2:18 left in the third quarter.
-All told, Monmouth held the 19-15 advantage in the third quarter, and took a 49-46 lead into the final frame.
-The Hawks led by five with 8:46 left in the fourth, but Fairfield came back to take a one-point lead with 6:11 remaining. A three-pointer from freshman Carol Arfinengo and a layup from junior Erica Balman put the Hawks up 58-54 with 4:54 left.
-The Hawks eventually used a 9-0 run to take a 62-54 lead with 4:10 remaining.
-With Fairfield closing the gap to 64-60, sophomore Kayla Shaw drilled a huge three-pointer with 46 seconds left, putting the Hawks up seven. Monmouth was able to close the game and take the 73-65 win.

NUMBERS CRUNCH
-Spooner-Knight scored in double-figures for the team-leading 18^th time this season. She scored 49 total points in Monmouth's final two home games.
-Barker scored in double-figures for the sixth time this season. She also went 3-of-3 from the foul line, and has made 57 of her last 62 free throws dating back to her freshman season.
-Senior Dana Carbone earned her first career start and scored eight points (2-3 3FG).
-Senior Kayla Quintana earned her second career start and grabbed three rebounds.
-Monmouth held the 34-2 advantage in bench points.
-Balman grabbed 10 rebounds for the fifth time this season.
-Sophomore Rosa Graham scored seven points with four assists.
-Sophomore Taylor Nason added four points and five assists.

UP NEXT
The Hawks will have one more regular season contest at Quinnipiac on Sunday before the MAAC Championships. Earlier this season, the Bobcats earned the 76-55 win in West Long Branch. Junior McKinzee Barker and sophomore Rosa Graham each scored 12 points in the loss. Sophomore Adriana Zelaya registered a career-high 10 points in the loss, including two three-pointers. Junior Erica Balman narrowly missed her first career double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds.