Iona Gaels (2-23, 1-13 MAAC) – 52
Monmouth Hawks (10-14, 6-7 MAAC) - 51
 
WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ  – A put-back layup with 2.2 seconds remaining gave Iona the win over the Monmouth University women's basketball team on Friday, 52-51. After battling back from a seven-point deficit, the Hawks led by as many as seven with 1:16 left in the third quarter. Monmouth went 1-4 from the free throw line in the last 31 seconds and turned the ball over 27 times in the game. In the first, third, and fourth quarters, Iona made a basket with less than three seconds remaining. Junior Alexa Middleton picked up her fourth double-double in her last nine games, scoring 16 points with 10 rebounds. The Blue & White drop to 10-14 (6-7 MAAC) on the season, and will stay home for a 7:00 PM matchup with Saint Peter's on Tuesday.
 
NOTES AND QUOTES
"We got beat by a team tonight who simply wanted it more. Credit to Iona. They deserved the win. They outplayed us and showed a lot more heart as a team." - Monmouth head coach Jody Craig
 
-After Monmouth scored the first bucket of the game, Iona went on a 7-0 run into the media timeout.
-Iona went ahead by as many as seven in the first, but the Hawks made four of their last five shots in the quarter. A buzzer-beating hook shot gave Iona a 16-13 advantage after one. Monmouth had nine turnovers in the opening frame.
-The Hawks took advantage of an Iona scoring drought in the second quarter, and outscored the Gaels 13-12 in the frame. At halftime, Iona held on to a 28-26 lead.
-After Iona went up 35-28 in the third quarter, the Hawks used a 12-0 run to take the lead.
-Even with a buzzer-beating three-pointer from Iona, Monmouth went on an 18-7 run to close the third. Heading into the final quarter, the Hawks led 46-42.
-In a low-scoring fourth, freshman Lucy Thomas made one of two free throws to put the Hawks up 51-49. Iona called timeout with 31.7 seconds left and the ball.
-The Gaels went to the line with 23.3 seconds left, and made one free throw to get within one.
-Monmouth missed two free throws with 12 seconds left. After a missed jumper by Iona's Juana Camilion, she grabbed her own offensive rebound and made a layup with 2.2 seconds left.
-The Hawks attempted an inbound, but the pass was stolen and the clock ran out.
 
NUMBERS CRUNCH
-Junior Sierra Green passed Beth DiRenzo (1990-91) for the second most three-pointers in a single season. With 81, she trails only Kayla Shaw (93) with five regular season games remaining.
-The Hawks came in leading the MAAC with 40.0 rebounds per game, and pulled down 46 tonight.
-Middleton went 8-10 from the free throw line.
-Monmouth's 27 turnovers are the second-most in a game this season.
-Junior Taylor Nason grabbed eight rebounds in the loss.
-Senior McKinzee Barker filled the stat sheet with five points, six rebounds, and five assists in 37 minutes.
-Iona held a 19-9 advantage in points off turnovers.
-Monmouth was outscored 10-5 in the fourth quarter.
 
UP NEXT
The Hawks will stay in the OceanFirst Bank Center for the third consecutive game to face Saint Peter's on Tuesday. Monmouth holds a 23-13 all-time series lead, including a 51-44 win in West Long Branch last year.