Fairfield Stags (12-9, 9-3 MAAC) – 40
Monmouth Hawks (7-17, 4-11 MAAC) – 39
 
WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – A three-pointer with 3.4 seconds remaining propelled Fairfield over the Monmouth University women's basketball team on Thursday, 40-39.
 
The Hawks knocked down two free throws in the final 25 seconds to take a two-point lead, but Fairfield senior Sam Kramer answered with the game-winning deep shot.
 
Another strong defensive effort by Monmouth was highlighted by zero Fairfield points in a span of 9:06 in the third and fourth quarters.
 
Senior Alexa Middleton (Philadelphia, PA/Abington Friends) registered her seventh double-double of the season with 10 points and 12 rebounds.
 
Sophomore Lucy Thomas (Ocean, NJ/St. Rose) added nine points and six rebounds in the loss.
 
Monmouth falls to 7-17 (4-11 MAAC) on the season, and will travel to Niagara next Thursday.
 
NOTES AND QUOTES
 
"Fairfield played for 40 minutes, and we had a few lulls. We didn't execute well on the last two possessions, and gave up too many offensive rebounds in the second half, giving them more chances than they needed. We just didn't get it done today. Defensively, I thought we were outstanding, but we lost some energy in the second half. That made a difference. We put ourselves in situations that we shouldn't have been in."- Monmouth head coach Jody Craig
 
-Monmouth stormed out to an early 10-0 lead, making four of its first seven shots.
-Fairfield answered with back-to-back three-pointers from senior Katie Armstrong.
-After scoring the final four points of the first quarter, the Stags cut the deficit to 15-10 heading into the second.
-A Stags triple to open the second frame made it 15-13, but Thomas answered with the next five points.
-Monmouth held Fairfield to just five points in the second quarter, and went into halftime with a 23-15 lead.
-An 8-2 Fairfield run forced Monmouth to call a timeout with 4:33 left in the third. The Hawks still maintained a 28-25 advantage.
-The Stags eventually outscored the Hawks 14-7 in the third quarter, making it a one-point game at 30-29. Neither team scored over the final 3:04 of the period.
-The Monmouth defense remained tough in the fourth, holding Fairfield without a point until 3:59 remained.
-Fairfield then used a 6-0 run, including another triple from Armstrong, to tie the game at 37.
-Green went to the line with 25 seconds remaining, and made one of two to put Monmouth up one.
-After a defensive stop, senior Rosa Graham also made one free throw, giving Monmouth a 39-37 lead with 6.8 ticks left.
-Fairfield's Kramer took the inbounds pass, and made a step back three-pointer for the lead. Monmouth got up a triple of its own with time expiring, but it missed the mark.  
 
NUMBERS CRUNCH
-Middleton notched the seventh double-double of the season, and 18^th of her career. Her 845 career rebounds rank 2^nd all-time. In 15 MAAC games, Middleton is averaging 11.3 points and 9.7 rebounds per contest.
-Thomas is averaging 13.1 points and 7.7 rebounds per game in MAAC play.
-Redshirt sophomore Jen Louro ended with seven points on 3-4 from the floor.
-Graham matched a career high with six rebounds.
-Monmouth held Fairfield to just 20% shooting in the first half and held a 24-12 rebounding advantage.
-Monmouth led for 37:35, while Fairfield led for 00:03.
-The Hawks held the Stags to just 25.9% (15-58).
-Fairfield scored 16 points off turnovers, compared to Monmouth's three.
 
UP NEXT
After a week off, Monmouth will travel to upstate New York, beginning with Niagara on Thursday. The Hawks hold an 8-6 all-time series lead, but the Purple Eagles earned a 73-70 win in West Long Branch earlier this season.