Monmouth Hawks (0-1, 0-0 MAAC) – 37
Bucknell Bison (1-1, 0-0 Patriot) - 71
 
LEWISBURG, PA – A 32-7 run propelled Bucknell over the Monmouth University women's basketball team in the season opener Saturday night, 71-37.
 
The Hawks cut the deficit to eight with 3:02 left in the first half, but the Bison started off the huge run after that to put it out of reach.
 
Senior Sierra Green (Queens, NY/Francis Lewis) led the team with 10 points and five steals, and is up to 100 career three-pointers in 32 games. Senior Alexa Middleton (Philadelphia, PA/Abington Friends) added seven points and seven rebounds in the loss.
 
Monmouth drops to 0-1 on the season, and will host Providence for the home opener on November 20.
 
NOTES AND QUOTES
 
"This wasn't anywhere close to the start we had hoped for. Our lack of discipline combined with poor execution led to a poor performance on both ends of the floor. We have a lot to work on." - Monmouth head coach Jody Craig
 
-After Bucknell scored the first six points, redshirt sophomore Jen Louro drilled a three from the wing for her first Monmouth bucket.
-By the end of the first quarter, the Bison led 18-7 on 50% from the floor.
-Midway through the second quarter, Green made a beautiful pass to senior Adriana Zelaya down low for the layup. Bucknell called a timeout, up 25-14.
-The Hawks went on a 7-0 run to cut it to single digits, but Bucknell took a 36-22 lead into halftime.
-In the third quarter, Bucknell went on an 10-0 run to go ahead 47-26.
-A late layup and a 22-7 overall advantage in the third frame put the Bison up 58-29.
-Bucknell kept its foot on the gas in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Hawks 13-8 for the eventual win.
 
NUMBERS CRUNCH
-Monmouth went an impressive 10-13 (76.9%) from the free throw line, while Bucknell went 15-24.
-The Bison shot 42.1% from the floor, and held the Hawks to 24.5%.
-Monmouth shot 3-19 from beyond the arc.
-Senior Akilah Jennings made her first appearance and start at Monmouth after sitting out last season due to NCAA transfer regulations.
-Nason (38), Graham (34), and Middleton (29) have combined for 101 career starts.
-13 different Hawks saw the floor, including six for the first time in a Monmouth uniform (Jennings, Louro, junior Brianna Livingston, junior Fatou Ndao, freshman Saule Kaupyte, and freshman Destiny Jackson).
-Zelaya finished with six rebounds, which tied a career high.
-Bucknell scored 21 points off 23 Monmouth turnovers.
 
UP NEXT
Monmouth will have 11 days off before its home opener on Wednesday, November 20 against Providence. The Friars have won all three games in the all-time series, including a 62-58 advantage the last time the teams met in 2016-2017.