FINAL SCORE
Northeastern 75 (10-9, 5-3 CAA)
Monmouth 70 (10-11, 5-5 CAA))

BOSTON, MA – Kaci Donovan poured in a career-high 24 points but it was not enough as Northeastern University edged the Monmouth University women's basketball team 75-70 on Sunday afternoon in Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) play. 
 
Donovan added three assists and two rebounds to go with her 24 points. Ariana Vanderhoop contributed 15 points and six rebounds while Lucy Thomas came off the bench and chipped in 15 points and five rebounds. Gemima Motema led Northeastern with a game-high 19 points while Derin Erdogan had 11 points and six assists. 
 
The Hawks sprinted out to an 8-0 lead in the first two minutes of the first quarter. Vanderhoop and Donovan each had three points in that stretch. Northeastern responded with a 16-4 run and took a 16-12 lead with 2:02 left in the period. Belle Kranbuhl hit a pair of free throws late and cut the Northeastern lead to two, 16-14 after one. 
 
Monmouth opened the second quarter on a 14-6 run and took a 28-22 advantage with 6:27 on the clock. Donovan scored seven straight in that stretch. The two teams battled back-and-forth as Northeastern took a 30-28 edge. The Hawks closed the second quarter on an 11-4 run and took a 39-35 lead at the half. Vanderhoop had four in the stretch.
 
Northeastern had the hot shooting hand in the third quarter. The Huskies shot 80% from the field and outscored Monmouth 19-13 in that period. Motema had eight points in that period as the home team took a 53-52 lead. 
 
Jen Louro's 100th career three-pointer to open the fourth quarter gave Monmouth a 55-53 lead. The two sides traded baskets over the next several minutes. Northeastern took a four-point advantage before a three from Louro and a foul shot from Bri Tinsley tied the game at 64-64 with 3:35 to go. Northeastern scored the next three points in the game and took a lead it would not relinquish. Monmouth cut the Northeastern lead to one three times over the final three minutes but could not come all the way back and fell, 75-70.

NOTES & QUOTES
"We preach toughness and discipline in our culture and I saw a ton of that tonight. We are growing every game and credit to Northeastern for making some tough plays down the stretch. We have to carry these lessons froward and grow from them and I'm confident we will."
- Head Coach Ginny Boggess

- Monmouth and Northeastern both grabbed 23 rebounds in the contest. It was just the third time this season the Hawks and their opponents have tied in the rebounding battle. 
- MU had 14 assists on 25 made baskets in the game. 
- Monmouth shot 47.2% from the field in the contest while Northeastern posted a 65.2% field goals percentage. 
- There was seven lead changes and three ties in the contest. 

 NUMBERS CRUNCH
- Kaci Donovan had a career-high 24 points in the contest. It was her second 20+ point performance of the season (22-Brown). It was also the sixth time this season she has scored in double figures for the Hawks.
- Ariana Vanderhoop scored in double figures for the sixth straight game and 10th time this season. Sunday's game was a homecoming from Vanderhoop who attended high school just one mile from Northeastern's campus.
- Lucy Thomas hit double figures for the third straight game and eighth time this season. 
- Jen Louro is the 14th player in program history to record 100 career threes at Monmouth. 
- Bri Tinsley and Kaci Donovan combined for seven assists in the game. Tinsley had four while Donovan dished out three. 

NEXT UP
Monmouth is back on the court on Friday, Feb. 3 when it hosts Hofstra at 7 p.m.