Rider Broncs (9-14, 6-6 MAAC) – 56
Monmouth Hawks (6-15, 4-6 MAAC) – 63
 
WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ  – Behind sophomore Taylor Nason's first career double-double and junior Erica Balman's career-high 12 points, the Monmouth University women's basketball team held on to defeat hOURglass rival Rider on Saturday afternoon, 63-56. Nason registered 12 points (6-7 FG) and 12 rebounds in the win, while Balman narrowly missed her first career double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds. Monmouth outscored the Broncs 24-8 in the first quarter and held on despite being outscored 48-39 in the final three quarters. The Hawks led for 36:35 of the contest, and dominated on the glass by a margin of 50-35. The team will travel to Siena on Monday looking for their second straight win.  
 
NOTES AND QUOTES
"I know this team has it in them, and that's what has been the most frustrating part [about our losses]. We've had glimpses of it, but had not yet seen 40 minutes of the kind of basketball we know it takes to win. It might not be pretty, but we were going to fight for 40 minutes and give it everything we have on both ends of the floor. Overall, I think we have a lot to be proud of." - Monmouth head coach Jody Craig
-After Rider scored the first basket of the game, Monmouth used a 10-0 run to go ahead 10-2.
-In their best quarter of the season, the Hawks took a 24-8 lead after the first frame. Spooner-Knight, Balman, and Nason combined for 19 points and nine rebounds to pace Monmouth.
-Rider held the slight 13-10 advantage in the second quarter, but the Hawks maintained a 34-21 lead at halftime.
-The Broncs ran out to a 7-0 run to open the third quarter, closing the gap to 34-28.
-Rider eventually outscored the Hawks 14-10 in the third quarter, but Monmouth still kept a 44-35 lead heading into the final frame.
-With 1:41 remaining in the fourth quarter, Rider cut the deficit to four at 55-51.
-A layup from Shaw and six free throws from the Hawks gave them the eventual 63-56 victory.
 
NUMBERS CRUNCH
-Monmouth scored at least 24 points in a quarter for just the fourth time this season.
-Averaging 21 per game coming in, the Hawks turned the ball over just five times in the first half.
-The Hawks only committed three fouls in the first half.
-Monmouth took the vast 50-35 rebounding advantage, just one away from their season high.
-MU went 4-9 (44.4%) from beyond the arc and 15-18 (83.3%) from the free throw line.
-The Hawks had 19 assists on 22 made baskets.
-Senior Rhaiah Spooner-Knight scored in double-figures for the team-leading 14^th time.
-Sophomore Kayla Shaw scored in double-figures for the 12^th time this season.
-Junior McKinzee Barker grabbed a season-high 10 rebounds, which was one shy of her career high.
-Freshman Carol Arfinengo earned her second straight start and made two triples for the second straight game.
 
UP NEXT
The Hawks will travel to Siena for a 7:00 PM matchup on Monday night. Last season, Siena took both regular season games, including a 91-86 overtime thriller in West Long Branch. Kayla Shaw scored a career-high 24 points in that game, hitting seven three-pointers.