FINAL SCORE
Monmouth 69 (13-14, 8-8 CAA)
Hofstra 67 (9-18, 3-13 CAA))

HEMPSTEAD, NY – Belle Kranbuhl had two huge blocks in the final 10 seconds and Ariana Vanderhoop sunk a pair of free throws with :00.2 seconds on the clock to lift the Monmouth University women's basketball team to a 69-67 road win at Hofstra University in Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) play on Sunday afternoon.
 
Lovin Marsicano paced the Hawks with a season-high 18 points in the game while Vanderhoop finished with 12 points and four steals. Kranbuhl had eight points, five rebounds and the four blocks. Brandy Thomas led Hofstra with a game-high 19 points while Emma Von Essen added 13 points. 
 
The Hawks sprinted out to a 10-5 lead in the first as Marsicano had a pair of three-pointers in that stretch. Hofstra scored seven of the next nine and tied the game at 12-12. The two teams went back-and-forth trading points as a late bucket from Bri Tinsley gave the Hawks a 19-16 lead after one. 
 
The second quarter proved much like the first as one team hit a basket and the other side found the answer. Jen Louro's triple at 4:10 put the visitors up 29-24. The Hawks and Pride continued to battle as Brandy Thomas' bucket with 29 seconds left sent the two teams into the locker room tied at 31-31. 
 
Hofstra had the hot hand to start the third period. The Pride opened the stanza on an 8-3 run and took a 39-34 lead with 7:55 left on the clock. Following a Monmouth timeout, the Hawks responded with a 12-2 run and took a 46-41 lead with 4:09 left in the period. All 12 of the Hawks' points in that run came via the three-ball. An Ella Farrelly bucket 2:54 gave Monmouth a 50-42 lead, its largest of the game. Hofstra closed the period on a 10-2 run and the two sides went to the fourth quarter knotted at 52-52. 
 
The Hawks and Pride continued to trade baskets over the five minutes of the fourth. Lucy Thomas' driving lay-up with 2:41 put the Hawks on top, 64-60. It was the largest lead either team would take in the final 10 minutes. A 7-3 run by the home team tied the game at 67-67 with 58 seconds left. A Monmouth turnover at with 24 seconds left gave Hofstra the ball back. The Monmouth defense locked in as Kranbuhl had the two blocks. The Hawks called timeout with :00.5 seconds on the clock to set up the final chance. Vanderhoop was fouled on the shot and knocked down two free throws to deliver the win.

NOTES & QUOTES
"It's much more fun to be on this side of a close game. I'm proud of our toughness and togetherness down the stretch. We got two huge stops which gave us the opportunity to execute on the offensive end. I really like the confidence we had in those big moments late in the game. I hope to carry the momentum into our final home stand this week and the tournament."
- Head Coach Ginny Boggess

- The game marked a return to one of the first stops in her career for head coach Ginny Boggess. She served as an assistant coach for Hofstra from 2006-08. 
- The game featured 14 lead changes and eight ties. 
- Monmouth tied its season-high with 11 three-pointers made in the game. It was the second straight game and fourth time this season, the Hawks have knocked down 11 triples in a game. 
- The Hawks won the rebounding battle, 30-27. It was the 18th time in 27 games that the Hawks have outrebounded their opponents. 
- Monmouth shot a season-best 55.1% from the field in the game, including 7-for-10 in the fourth quarter.
- The Hawks had 21 assists on 27 made baskets.

 NUMBERS CRUNCH
- Lovin Marsicano had a season-high 18 points in the game as she was an impressive 7-for-11 from the field including 4-for-7 from three.
- After being held to just two points in the last two games combined, Ariana Vanderhoop responded with 12 points. Vanderhoop scored 10 of her 12 in the second half of the game. 
- Bri Tinsley matched her career-high with eight assists in the game. It was the third time this season she has handed out eight assists in a game. 
- All nine Hawks who appeared in the game scored at least two points and pulled down at least one rebound.  

NEXT UP
Monmouth returns home for its final two home games of the regular season. The action starts Thursday, Mar. 2 when the Hawks host William & Mary at 7 p.m.