Rider Broncs (5-14, 4-10 MAAC) – 45
Monmouth Hawks (0-8, 0-4 MAAC) - 31  
 
WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – A strong first half sent Rider past the Monmouth University women's basketball team on Sunday, 45-31. The Broncs outscored the Hawks 24-10 in the first half before the teams each scored 21 in the second half.
 
In a defensive battle, Rider shot 30.2% (19-63) from the field while holding Monmouth to 25.5% (12-47).
 
Freshman Jania Hall (Gaithersburg, MD/St. Vincent Pallotti) led Monmouth in scoring with eight points in addition to four assists.
 
Freshman Belle Kranbuhl (Boonville, NY/Adirondack Central) blocked nine shots, which are the most for a Monmouth player since 1991. Kranbuhl also pulled down 11 rebounds for the fourth consecutive game.
 
Monmouth falls to 0-8 (0-4 MAAC) on the season, and will host Siena this Wednesday.  
 
NOTES AND QUOTES
 
"Today was not the result we are looking for, but at least we battled for 40 minutes. Offense is still a struggle as we get our chemistry together and our legs under us. This kind of effort will give us a chance in every game." – Monmouth head coach Jody Craig
 
-Rider scored the first nine points of the game and held Monmouth to 0-of-8 from the floor.
-The Broncs eventually took a 14-4 lead after one full quarter, holding the Hawks to 1-of-11.
-Hall found Kranbuhl down low on two separate occasions in the second quarter, as Monmouth closed the deficit to 24-10.
-Neither team scored in the last 2:32 of the second frame, so Rider took a 14-point lead into the break.
-Monmouth scored the first basket of the third quarter, as freshman Gabrielle Wener got a friendly roll on a corner three.
-The home team's offense started to heat up midway through the third, making four straight field goals to cut the deficit to 30-21.
-The Hawks eventually outscored Rider 12-10 in the third, but the Broncs maintained a 12-point lead heading into the final quarter.
-Monmouth used a 7-0 run in the fourth quarter, including an and-one bucket from Hall, to crunch the deficit to just nine with 6:50 remaining. The Broncs quickly answered with a 6-0 run of their own to regain a comfortable lead.
-Rider outscored the Hawks 11-9 in the fourth to seal the win.  
 
NUMBERS CRUNCH
-Kranbuhl's nine blocks tie Suzanne Johnson (1991) for the third most in a single game. She also leads the team with 7.5 rebounds per game.
-Hall is second on the team with 8.9 points per game.
-Freshman Ariana Vanderhoop added four points, five rebounds, and two assists in the loss.
-Rider was 5-of-23 from long range, while Monmouth shot 2-of-9.
-Sophomore Saule Kaupyte grabbed eight rebounds and two steals.
-Freshman Gabrielle Wener notched five points and three rebounds.
 
UP NEXT
Monmouth will play its fifth straight home game when it welcomes Siena on Wednesday. The Saints hold a slight 12-11 lead in the all-time series. The teams split last season, with each team winning at home.