[OT]
Monmouth Hawks (9-13, 5-6 MAAC) - 56
Siena Saints (10-14, 6-7 MAAC) – 54
 
LOUDONVILLE, NY  – Junior Emani Clough made two free throws in the final four seconds, and the Monmouth University women's basketball team hung on for the overtime win against Siena on Saturday, 56-54. The Hawks led by as many as 17 in the first quarter, but the Saints battled back to eventually take a five-point lead with 7:48 left in the fourth. With the game tied, freshman Alexa Wallace made two free throws with 38 seconds left in regulation to send the game into overtime. Monmouth outscored the Saints 8-6 in the extra period, including senior McKinzee Barker's and-one play and six total made free throws from the Hawks. Barker led all scorers with 14 points in the win, going 3-5 from beyond the arc. In her 100^th career game, senior Erica Balman added nine points and three blocks. The Blue & White improve to 9-13 (5-6 MAAC) on the season, and will return for three-straight home games beginning with Manhattan on Tuesday night.  
 
NOTES AND QUOTES
"I loved our defensive effort and poise down the stretch. We had a number of players make big plays, hit clutch free throws down the stretch, and get huge stops on defense late in overtime. I'm really proud of our performance today." - Monmouth head coach Jody Craig
 
-Monmouth scored the first eight points, including two triples from Barker.
-After a Siena basket, the Hawks scored the next five points. Freshman Allure Simmons buried a three, and the Saints were forced to call a timeout down 13-2.
-Monmouth kept the foot on the gas in the first, eventually taking a 22-8 lead after one. The Hawks shot 9-15 (60%) in the opening quarter, while holding Siena to 2-13 (15.4%).
-Barker went into double figures with 8:26 left in the second quarter. Her 11^th point gave Monmouth a 24-8 lead.
-Siena reeled off a 10-0 run in the middle of the second to cut it to 24-18.
-A eventual 15-5 Siena run to close to second quarter made it a 29-23 Monmouth lead at halftime.
-The Hawks went up by 11 early in the third quarter, but Siena went on a 7-0 run to make it 38-34.
-A late three-pointer from Siena extended its run to 10-1. Heading into the fourth, Monmouth held on to a 39-37 lead.
-Siena took its first lead of the game with an early fourth quarter triple.
-With 4:53 left, Monmouth scored its first points of the fourth on two Lucy Thomas free throws. The Hawks trailed 44-41 at that mark.
-With 38 seconds remaining, freshman Alexa Wallace buried two clutch free throws to tie the game at 48. Neither team could connect on a game-winner, and the contest ended up going to overtime.
-Trailing by two in OT, Barker completed a three-point play at the line.
-Siena tied the game at 54 with 35 seconds left on a layup.
-After two offensive rebounds, Clough stepped to the line with less than four seconds remaining. She hit one of two, and after Monmouth got a big defensive stop, Clough hit another to seal the win.
 
NUMBERS CRUNCH
-Barker went into double figures for the fourth time this season, and 20^th of her career.
-Junior Alexa Middleton stuffed the stat sheet with eight points, eight rebounds, three blocks, and three steals.
-Simmons earned her first career start, and played a season-high 33 minutes. She registered five points, five rebounds, four assists, and was a difference maker on the defensive end.
-Balman's three blocks increases her season total to 33.
-The Hawks went 18-56 (32.1%) from the floor, and 6-25 (24.0%) from three.
-Monmouth led the game for 31:35.
 
UP NEXT
The Hawks will return to West Long Branch for three straight home games, beginning with Manhattan on Tuesday. Monmouth holds a 14-11 all-time series lead against the Jaspers, most recently a 63-59 overtime win at the OceanFirst Bank Center last year.