WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – The Monmouth women's basketball team outscored Niagara, 19-8, in the fourth quarter to earn a 61-56 home victory on Thursday at OceanFirst Bank Center.
 
The Hawks (8-5, 3-1 MAAC) trailed by six entering the fourth frame but used an early 9-2 run that lasted over five minutes to grab their first lead of the night since the 7:39 mark of the second quarter. Niagara (6-9, 3-4 MAAC) responded with four unanswered points to go ahead, 54-51, but the Hawks countered with a 10-2 run to close out the game and secure the win.

While the Hawks put up two separate runs on the offensive end in the fourth, the Monmouth defense clamped down in the final 10 minutes, limiting the Purple Eagles to just two made baskets on 16 shots from the field. 
 
Kaci Donovan started in her third game of the year and led all Monmouth scorers with a career-high 16 in the scoring column to pair with five rebounds, matching her career-best mark. Off the bench, Antonia Panayides provided a major spark, tallying a career-high 11 points on 4-of-8 shooting with three 3-pointers. The freshman also logged career-high totals in rebounds (6) and assists (4).
 
Ariana Vanderhoop stuffed the stat sheet opposite the Purple Eagles, notching 12 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals. Stella Clark and Lucy Thomas chipped in with eight points apiece. Clark had four boards and five helpers, while Thomas reeled in six rebounds and handed out four assists.

NOTES AND QUOTES
"Our defense came up big yet again tonight. We had some young players step up and contribute on both ends of the floor which we are eager to build upon as we grind out this stretch of five games in 10 days. I was really proud of our team's fight on the glass and ability to close out this game. We are excited for another opportunity to play in front of our home crowd this weekend."
-Head Coach Ginny Boggess

-Monmouth improved to 3-1 in MAAC play.
-It's the program's best start to conference play since the 2010-11 season, when the team started 3-1 as a member of the NEC.
-Monmouth won its fourth conference home opener in its last six tries.
-It was the seventh straight meeting between Monmouth and Niagara that was decided by single digits.
-The Hawks are now 3-1 in games decided by single digits this season.
-Monmouth held its eighth straight opponent to under 30-percent shooting from deep.
-It was the third straight game that the Hawks did not allow more than two 3-pointers by the opposition.
-Panayides reached double figures in the scoring column for the first time in her collegiate career.
-Vanderhoop's five assists tied her career-best mark, while her three steals was a new career high.
-Belle Kranbuhl logged 10 boards for her second double-digit rebounding game of the season.

NUMBERS CRUNCH
-Monmouth won the rebounding battle, 50-35.
-It was the second time this season that the Hawks reeled in 50 or more boards in a game.
-The Hawks corralled a season-best 17 offensive boards.
-Monmouth dished out 16 assists on 23 made shots.
-Three Hawks scored in double figures.
-Monmouth improved to 9-7 all-time versus Niagara.

UP NEXT
The Hawks will remain in West Long Branch and host Canisius on Saturday for a 2 p.m. MAAC contest at OceanFirst Bank Center.