2022-23 Monmouth Women's Basketball Game Twelve Preview
                                                                                       
Monmouth Hawks (5-6, 0-0 CAA) host Northeastern Huskies (5-6, 0-0 CAA)
Friday, December 30, 2022 - 3:00 p.m. 
OceanFirst Bank Center, West Long Branch, NJ
 
TV
FloSports
Eddy Occhipinti (Play-by-Play)
Dominique Patrick (Analyst)

Opening Tip
• Monmouth prepares to close out the 2022 portion of their schedule and officially opens CAA play by hosting Northeastern.
• This is the first ever meeting between the Hawks and Huskies and second straight game that sees MU take on an opponent for the first time.
• Bri Tinsley poured in a game-high 18 points to lead the Hawks against BYU last time out.
• Monmouth is 1-0 in conference openers under head coach Ginny Boggess and is 3-2 in its last five conference openers
• MU matched its season-high with 11 three-pointers made against BYU (BYU and Navy).
• Monmouth had six blocks in its game at BYU. It was the second highest block total of the season for the Hawks.
• Belle Kranbuhl had four blocks against BYU and ranks second in the CAA in blocked shots per game (2.1 blocks per game). She ranks 19th nationally in total blocks with 23.
• The Hawks enter play this week as one of the top three-point shooting teams in the conference. MU is averaging 7.6 three-pointers per game entering CAA action.
• Monmouth will look to continue its strong trend of playing well at home, the Hawks are 3-1 through their first four games this year.
• Monmouth comes into this week averaging 13.18 assists per game which ranks fourth in the CAA.
• Following Friday's game, Monmouth is back in action on Sunday, Jan. 1 when it travels to Delaware for a CAA contest.
 

AND SO IT BEGINS
The Hawks play their first ever Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) game as they play host to Northeastern. MU made the jump from the MAAC to the CAA this year. The Hawks will be looking to build on the momentum of women's soccer and field hockey, who each won the regular season title in their first season in the CAA.

Monmouth is 1-0 in conference openers under head coach Ginny Boggess. The Hawks are 3-2 in their last five conference openers.

FROM BEHIND THE ARC
MU knocked down 11 three-pointers at BYU in its last contest. Bri Tinsley had a game-high four three-pointers in the contests while Lovin Marsicano connected on two. The 11 made threes in the game, tied a season-high for the Hawks (also against Navy). 

Monmouth is 4-3 on the year when it drains eight or more three-pointers in a game. Tinsley, Kaci Donovan and Jen Louro have all connected on 10 or more three-pointers this season. 

NOT IN MY HOUSE 
MU has found success blocking the basketball throughout the first eleven games of the season. The Hawks have 43 blocks and are averaging 3.91 blocks per game. That ranks first in the CAA this season and 75th nationally.

The Hawks are 4-3 this season when they record four or more blocks in a game. They had a season-high nine blocks in the win over NJIT. MU's efforts have been led by Belle Kranbuhl, who has 23 blocks so far this year, which ranks 19th nationally. Her 2.1 blocks per game is among the top three in the CAA this season. Kranbuhl is one of six Hawks to record at least one block this season.

I'LL TAKE THAT
Monmouth recorded six steals last time out at BYU. Belle Kranbuhl led that effort as she matched her career-high with four swipes.

The Hawks have recorded five or more steals in eight games so far this eason. MU has recorded at least six steals in three of its last four contests. Seven Hawks have recorded five or more steals this season, that group is led by Bri Tinsley who has 10 swipes in her first 11 games. 

SEEING DOUBLE
Bri Tinsley (18 points) led the Hawks in scoring last time out at BYU. It was the third straight game that Tinsley has scored 18 or more points in. She has now scored in double figures in seven of the first 11 games this season for the Hawks.

IT'S NICE TO MEET YOU 
The start of CAA play means several new opponents on the schedule for Monmouth. Of the 12 other teams in the league,  six of them are first time opponents for the Hawks. MU has faced Stony Brook (last time in 2013), Delaware (last time in 2013), William & Mary (last time in 1997), UNCW (last time in 2009), Hofstra (last time in 2001) and Drexel (last time in 2020). The rest of the CAA are all first time opponents for the Hawks, including today's opponent Northeastern.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE HOME COOKING
The game against Northeastern is the start of a stretch that will see the Hawks play three of their next four games inside the friendly confines of the OceanFirst Bank Center. Monmouth boasts a 3-1 mark at home this year and are outscoring opponents by a +3.8 margin and outrebounding opponents by a +7.0 margin. Bri Tinsley, Ariana Vanderhoop and Lucy Thomas are all averaging better than 10 points per game at home while Thomas and Belle Kranbuhl are both averaging better than eight rebounds per game at home.

GOING DEEP
Jen Louro has proven to be a threat from behind the arc during her Hawks career. She is 14th in career three-pointers having tied Helena Kurt with her 86th triple for MU against Dartmouth. She needs 21 more three-pointer to move into a tie with Gabby Singer for 13th with 108.

IRON HAWK
Lucy Thomas has been a mainstay in the Monmouth rotation since her arrival on campus for the 2018-19 season. Thomas recently played her in 108th career game for the Hawks. She needs to play in three more games to move into the top 20 for career games played at Monmouth.

SCOUTING NORTHEASTERN
Northeastern comes into the game with a record of 5-6 on the year. The Huskies have won two straight and are coming off a 75-64 win over Stonehill last time out. Derin Erdogan leads the Huskies while averaging 13.9 points per game with 38 assists. 

UP NEXT
Monmouth is back at it on Sunday, Jan. 1 when it travels to Delaware for a 2 p.m. game.