Monmouth Hawks (12-14, 8-7 MAAC) – 88
Niagara Purple Eagles (12-15, 8-7 MAAC) – 81
 
NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, NY  – Scoring its most points in a regulation game since 2008, the Monmouth University women's basketball team outlasted Niagara on Friday night, 88-81. The Hawks led by as many as 20 in the second quarter, but Niagara used a 32-11 advantage in the third quarter to take the lead. Monmouth bounced back in the fourth, outscoring the Purple Eagles 35-26 in the final frame. The Hawks shot 33-59 (55.9%) from the floor, which is their best shooting percentage since January 2010. Freshman Lucy Thomas led the way with a season-high 20 points, shooting 7-10 from the floor. Thomas also added six rebounds and a season-high six assists. Senior Erica Balman scored a career-high 14 points (7-8 FG) to go along with seven rebounds and two blocks. Junior Alexa Middleton added 13 points in the win on a perfect 6-6 from the floor. Junior Sierra Green went for 12 points, scoring in double-figures for a team-leading 19^th time this season. With just three regular season games left, the Hawks move into fourth place in the MAAC standings and will take on Canisius this Sunday.
 
NOTES AND QUOTES
"We did not come out well in the third and let them back in, but I'm proud of our response to battle back and regain control of the game. That's not easy to do, especially on the road. This was a great win for our team." - Monmouth head coach Jody Craig
 
-Monmouth took a 9-3 lead into the first quarter media (4:57). The Hawks held a 9-2 rebounding advantage to that point.
-An eventual 9-0 run put the Hawks ahead 14-3, due in large part to an 8-0 offensive rebounds advantage.
-Niagara made a jumper and a free throw to make it 14-6 after the first quarter.
-Monmouth used a 9-0 run midway through the second to go ahead 29-12.
-Thomas buried a long triple at the halftime buzzer to put Monmouth up 42-23. The Hawks outscored Niagara 28-17 in the second quarter, which was their most points scored in a quarter this season.
-Niagara scored the first five points of the third quarter to make it 42-28. The Purple Eagles would continue to chip away at their deficit in the third, including a 12-0 run. They outscored the Hawks 32-11 in the quarter and took a 55-53 lead into the fourth.
-Junior Rosa Graham took over in the beginning of the fourth, scoring eight points (two triples) in the first 2:30 of the frame. The Hawks regained the lead at 65-59 and forced Niagara to call a timeout.
-Green scored eight straight points in just 1:12, putting Monmouth ahead 79-65 with 3:31 left.
-Niagara answered with a 7-0 run to make it 79-72, and Graham ended the run with 46.3 seconds left by hitting a free throw. 
-The Hawks held on in the final seconds, shooting 9-12 from the free throw line in the fourth.

NUMBERS CRUNCH
-The Hawks held a 24-7 rebounding advantage in the first half and 34-21 in the game.
-Monmouth shot 12-15 (80%) from the floor in the second quarter and 11-14 (78.6%) in the fourth.
-Balman's previous career high was 12 points at Rider last season.
-Green made two more three-pointers in this game, and now has 86 on the season. She trails only Kayla Shaw (93) for the program record with three regular season games remaining.
-In two games against Niagara this season, Thomas has 39 points. She bested her previous season high (19) set against the Purple Eagles earlier this season.
-Thomas, Balman, and Middleton combined for 47 points on 20-24.
-Monmouth went 14-18 from the free throw line.
-The Hawks had the bench advantage, 32-7.
-Niagara actually had a better shooting percentage, going 32-57 (56.1%) from the field.
-Monmouth outscored Niagara 77-49 in the first, second, and fourth quarters.
 
UP NEXT
The Hawks will remain in Western New York to face Canisius on Sunday afternoon. With a 67-61 win in West Long Branch earlier this season, Monmouth went ahead in the all-time series 7-6.