Monmouth Hawks (8-12, 4-5 MAAC) - 73
Fairfield Stags (5-16, 2-8 MAAC) – 63
 
FAIRFIELD, CT  – After trailing by 10 in the third quarter, the Monmouth University women's basketball team rattled off a 21-4 run and defeated Fairfield on Sunday afternoon, 73-63. Monmouth fell behind 46-36 in the third frame, then outscored the Stags 37-17 the rest of the way. The Hawks were lights out from the floor, shooting 26-49 (53.1%) from the field and 11-16 (68.8%) from three-point range. It was the program's highest field goal percentage since March 2, 2014, when the Hawks shot 53.4% against Siena, as well as the highest three-point percentage since at least 2005. For the second straight game, Monmouth was tied heading into the fourth quarter. After falling to Quinnipiac last time out, the Hawks outscored Fairfield 27-17 in the fourth to match a season high for points in a single quarter. Freshman Lucy Thomas led the way with 13 points, making all three of her shots from long range. Senior McKinzee Barker and junior Rosa Graham each added 10 points in the win, combining for 5-6 from three-point range. Graham also matched a career high with eight assists. The Blue & White improve to 8-12 (4-5 MAAC) on the season, and will travel to Rider on Thursday for a 7:00 PM contest.  
 
NOTES AND QUOTES
"We just had to get disciplined on the defensive end. We were having too many breakdowns, and not getting enough opportunities on the offensive end. I found a group at the end that was willing to stay to what our concepts were, and we were able to outplay them in the final stretch."-  Monmouth head coach Jody Craig
 
-The Hawks started red hot from beyond the arc, making six of their first seven to take a 20-14 lead.
-After Monmouth led by as many as six in the opening frame, Fairfield cut it to three by the end of the first quarter. At the end of one, the score displayed 22-19.
-Fairfield scored the first seven points of the second quarter to extend its run to 10-0. Monmouth was forced to call a timeout with 8:08 left, trailing 26-22.
-After an offensive outburst in the first quarter, the teams cooled down in the second. Fairfield outscored the Hawks 13-8 in the frame, and took a slight 32-30 lead into halftime. Monmouth turned the ball over 12 times in the first half, and the Stags capitalized with 17 points off turnovers.
-Fairfield jumped out to a 46-36 lead in the third quarter, but Monmouth answered with a 6-0 run to make it 46-42.
-After a late and-one play from Taylor Nason, Monmouth extended its run to 10-0. At the end of three, the teams were locked at 46.
-Thomas buried two three-pointers early in the fourth quarter, and Barker added another one to give the Hawks a 57-50 advantage.
-Monmouth eventually outscored the Stags 27-17 in the final frame to take the victory.
 
NUMBERS CRUNCH
-Monmouth used the same starting five for the fourth straight game (Graham, Green, Wallace, Thomas, Middleton). The Hawks are 3-1 in those games.
-Thomas scored in double figures for the 10^th time this season.
-Graham and Barker each scored in double figures for the third time this season.
-Junior Alexa Middleton added eight points and 10 rebounds in the win. She grabbed double digit rebounds for the fifth time this year, which leads the team.
-Junior Sierra Green made two more three-pointers, moving into a tie with Sarah Olson (2014-15) for the 5^th most in a single season (70).
-Freshman Alexa Wallace hit her first career three-pointer in the first quarter. She scored a season-high eight points in the game.
-The Hawks held a 36-24 rebounding advantage.
-Fairfield scored 31 points off 22 Monmouth turnovers.
 
UP NEXT
The Hawks will make the short trip to Rider on Thursday for a 7:00 PM tip. Monmouth holds the 29-16 all-time series lead over the Broncs. The teams did not meet in Lawrenceville last season, but Monmouth earned a 63-56 win in West Long Branch.