FINAL SCORE
Monmouth 70 (12-12, 7-6 CAA)
Drexel 66 (18-6, 10-3 CAA)

WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – A strong start by the team and a big finish by Ariana Vanderhoop allowed the Monmouth University women's basketball to secure a 70-66 win over Drexel University, the top team in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) on Sunday afternoon. 
 
Vanderhoop scored 16 of her team-high 20 points in the second half to pace the Hawks. Lucy Thomas added 15 points while Kaci Donovan chipped in 11 points and three assists. Keishana Washington scored a game-high 32 points for Drexel.
 
After Drexel scored the first bucket of the game, the Hawks responded with a 9-2 run and took a 9-4 lead with 5:41 left in the period. Thomas scored seven points in that scoring spurt. Drexel pulled to within three, 11-8 on a Washington bucket at 3:34. Monmouth closed the quarter on a 10-4 run and took a 21-12 lead after one. Bri Tinsley and Donovan each had three points in that stretch. 
 
Both teams had scoring droughts in the second period. Drexel managed to tally 12 of the 21 points in the stanza but the Hawks led 30-24 at the break. 
 
Monmouth opened the third quarter on a 9-2 run and took a 39-27 lead with 7:04 to go. That was the Hawks' largest lead of the game. Vanderhoop had five points in that stretch. Drexel scored 19 of the next 28 points and cut the Hawks' lead to two, 48-46 with 40 seconds to go in the period. Monmouth held that two-point advantage at the end of three.
 
The Hawks and Dragons seemingly went basket for basket in the fourth quarter. Drexel would cut the lead to three only to see MU push its advantage back to five over the first five minutes of the period. The two teams continued to battle as Drexel cut the home team's advantage to two, 68-66 with 53 seconds left. Thomas hit a pair of free throws in the final 10 seconds to close out the win.

NOTES & QUOTES
"Our preparation was very focused this bye week on being a more disciplined defensive team. I am extremely proud of our execution and toughness down the stretch. I'll enjoy this one today and then back to work for a huge road swing at Elon and N.C. A&T."
- Head Coach Ginny Boggess

- Monmouth improved to 8-3 at home this year with the win.
- The Hawks shot 50% from the field in the game. Monmouth is 3-1 on the year when it shoots 50% or better from the field. 
- MU won the rebounding battle, 31-28. The Hawks improve to 10-5 when they win the rebounding battle. 
- Monmouth was 10-for-13 from the foul line in the contest while holding Drexel to just 5-of-10 from the line.
- The Hawks led for 37:42 in the game. 
- The Hawks improved to 6-1 on the year when scoring at least 70 points in a game.

 NUMBERS CRUNCH
- Ariana Vanderhoop was extremely effective in the game, shooting 8-for-9 from the field. She scored 16 of her 20 points in the second half, including 11 in the fourth quarter. 
- Lucy Thomas, who was recognized for reaching the 1,000-point plateau before the game, reached double figures on the scoresheet for the 10th time this season.
- Kaci Donovan has now reached double figures in eight games. 
- Belle Kranbuhl led the defensive efforts with seven rebounds. 
- All nine Hawks who appeared in the game scored at least two points and grabbed at least one rebound.

NEXT UP
Monmouth is back on the court on Friday, Feb. 18 when it visits Elon at 7 p.m.