Fairfield Stags (10-6, 7-1 MAAC) at Monmouth Hawks (9-5, 4-1 MAAC)
Monday, Jan. 24, 2022 – 7 p.m. EST
OceanFirst Bank Center, West Long Branch, N.J.
 
TV
ESPN3
Play-by-Play: Eddy Occhinpinti
Analyst: Dei Lynam
 
Monmouth Notes
 
MONMOUTH COVID-19 POLICIES
Monmouth University has announced its campus-wide indoor event COVID-19 policies.
 
The following policies are in effect until further notice:

1. All fans 18 and over are required to provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test administered by a doctor's office or a clinic within 72 hours of the event time for indoor Athletic events. Home test kit results will not be accepted.
2. All event audiences must wear a mask that completely covers the nose and mouth of the participant. Face shields are not acceptable. This includes fans from 2-17 years of age.
3. Athletic events held in the OceanFirst Bank Center will be permitted to have food in the stands as long as masks remain on when the participant is not actively consuming food or beverages. Masks must be worn otherwise.
 
Men's and women's basketball season ticket holders will be mailed (and emailed) instructions on how to obtain a vaccine credential which will require them to show their vaccine cards once and receive a credential to speed up entrance to events. Season ticket holders who are not vaccinated will need to show proof a negative test within 72 hours of the event for every event attended.
 
Additionally, there will be separate entrances for students, season ticket holders and the general public. More information on those locations will be available on MonmouthHawks.com
 
OPENING TIP
-A win against the Stags would put the Hawks at 5-1 in MAAC play. Monmouth has not started 5-1 in conference action since the 1996-97 squad went 5-1 in the six five games as a member of the NEC. 
-Defeating the Stags would give Monmouth 10 overall wins on the year, the first season with double-digit victories for the program since the 2018-19 campaign. It would also be Monmouth's sixth home win of the year, a feat that hasn't been achieved since the 2018-19 season.
-The Hawks will look to secure their third consecutive win at OceanFirst Bank Center to mark the program's longest home win streak since the 2017-18 team won three in a row from Feb. 10-23. 
-Monmouth is halfway through its four-game homestand and is coming off a 60-48 victory over Canisius this past Saturday. 
-Fairfield, who currently sits first in the MAAC standings, suffered its first conference loss of the year on Saturday after falling to Siena 69-56 in Loudonville, N.Y. Prior to that defeat, the Stags were on a seven-game winning streak. 
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
-Monday's matchup between Monmouth and Fairfield marks the 22nd all-time meeting between the two sides.
-Fairfield has won each of the last four matchups, with Monmouth's last win opposite the Stags coming on February 3, 2019 (73-63) in Connecticut.
 
ON THE ATTACK IN THE MAAC
Monmouth opened the 2021-22 MAAC slate with back-to-back wins over Iona and Quinnipiac. It was the first time in program history that the Hawks started MAAC play with consecutive wins. The last time Monmouth claimed two straight victories to begin conference play was during the 2010-11 season when the Hawks were a member of the NEC and bested Central Connecticut State and Bryant. Monmouth currently sits at 4-1 in MAAC contests, the program's best start to conference play since that 2002-03 team started 4-1 in the NEC.
 
EVERYBODY GETTING INVOLVED
In Monmouth's 60-48 home win over Canisius on Saturday, all nine Hawks that saw action in the game recorded at least one point. The last time Monmouth had nine or more players appear in a game and all get into the scoring column was on Feb. 22, 2019 against Niagara when 10 different Hawks played and scored at least one point.
 
CLARK STAYS HOT
Graduate student guard Stella Clark has reached double-digit scoring in six of her last seven outings, while averaging 16.1 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.1 assists per tilt. Clark is shooting the ball at a 38-percent clip from the field and 45 percent from long range during that stretch.
 
DEFENDING THE PERIMETER
Monmouth currently ranks second in the MAAC and is tied for 12th in Division I with Old Dominion in opponent 3-point field goal percentage. Opponents are shooting just 25 percent from deep opposite the Hawks. Monmouth has held eight of its previous nine opponents under 30 percent from beyond the arc. The Hawks' last four opponents are 11-54 (.204) from long range. Monmouth has held 10 of its 14 opponents this season to five or less 3-point makes.
 
IN EXCLUSIVE COMPANY
Through Monmouth's first 14 games, the Hawks currently hold an 9-5 overall record. Head coach Ginny Boggess tied the program record for fastest head coach in program history to reach nine wins in his or her inaugural season at the helm. Michele Baxter (14 games – 2004-05/05-06) and Mickey McGlade (14 games – 1984-85) are the only two to accomplish nine wins in the first 14 games of their coaching tenures with the program.