2022-23 Monmouth Women's Basketball Game Twenty-Eight Preview
                                                                                       
Monmouth Hawks (13-14, 8-8 CAA) host the William & Mary Tribe (15-12, 10-6 CAA)
Thursday, March 2, 2023 - 7:00 p.m. 
Oceanfirst Bank Center - West Long Branch, NJ

Watch
SNY/FloSports
Eddy Occhipinti (Play-by-Play)
Dei Lynam (Color)

Opening Tip
• The final homestand of the season begins Thursday as the Hawks welcome William & Mary to the Oceanfirst Bank Center.
• This will be the fourth meeting all-time between the Hawks and Tribe. Monmouth leads the series, 2-1 though the Tribe got a 73-68 win when the two sides met in early February.
• Monmouth picked up a thrilling 69-67 road win at Hofstra last time out. Ariana Vanderhoop made a pair of free throws just bfore time expired to deliver the win.
• The Hawks have hit 11 three-pointers in each of their last two games and matched their season-high in the process. Monmouth knocked down its 200 three-pointer of the season on Sunday.
• Lovin Marsicano had a season-high 18 points in the win at Hofstra.
• MU recorded the 597th win in program history on Feb. 26th at Hofstra.
• Monmouth will look to finish strong at home where the Hawks are 8-3 on the year.
• Monmouth shot 55.1% from the field at Hofstra. It was the fifth time this season the Hawks have shot 50% or better from the floor.
• Grad student Lucy Thomas appeared in her 123 career game for the Hawks at Hofstra. She is just two games away from tying the school record for career games played.
• The Hawks handed out 21 assists on Sunday against Hofstra. It was the second time this season MU has had 20 or more assists in a single-game.
• The Hawks wrap up their regular season on March 4 when they host Stony Brook.
 

GOING DEEP
For the second straight game, the Hawks knocked down 11 three-pointers in a game. It was the fourth time this season Monmouth has connected on 11 triples in a contest. Lovin Marsicano led the Hawks with four three-pointers in that game while Ariana Vanderhoop, Jen Louro and Bri Tinsley each hit two.

The Hawks have knocked down 200 three-pointers on the season. It is the first time since the 2016-17 season that the Hawks have hit at least 200 three-pointers in a season. MU has made 73 more triples this season than their opponents. The Hawks are 9-5 on the year when they connect on eight or more three-pointers in a game. \

LOVING THE HOME COOKING
The Hawks play their final two games of the year at home where they have found plenty of success. Monmouth is 8-3 at home where it is outscoring opponents by a +2.5 margin and outrebounding opponents by a +5.0 margin. Ariana Vanderhoop is averaging a team-best 12.3 points per game while Bri Tinsley is tossing in 10.9 points per game. Belle Kranbuhl is pulling down a team-best 7.9 rebounds per game at home.

If Monmouth can pick up a win at home to end the season, the Hawks would have their most wins at home since the 2012-13 squad won nine games at home.

CLEANING THE GLASS
Monmouth won the rebounding battle, 30-27 on Sunday at Hofstra. All nine Hawks who appeared in that game pulled down at least one rebound. Belle Kranbuhl and Bri Tinsley led the way with five rebounds apiece against the Pride.

It was the 18th time this season the Hawks have won the rebounding battle. Monmouth is now 11-7 on the year when it wins the rebounding battle against its opponent. Monmouth comes into Thursday's action ranked third in the CAA with a +2.8 rebounding margin.

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 123rd career game for the Hawks. She is currently is tied for fourth in career games played at Monmouth. Thomas needs to appear in two more games to tie the school record for career games played (125 games by Gabby Singer 2009-13).

MISS ASSIST
For the second time this season, the Hawks handed out 20 or more assists in a single-game. Monmouth had 21 assists on 27 made baskets at Hofstra. Bri Tinsley led the way as she matched her career-high with eight assists in that contest. The Hawks have had at least one player with four or more assists in 21 of 27 games.

Monmouth comes into Thursday averaging 13.22 assists per game, which ranks fourth in the CAA. The Hawks have recorded 15 or more assists in 11 games. Tinsley leads the Hawks in assists as she is averaging 3.9 assists per game. That ranks tied for fourth in the CAA. She has nine games this season with five or more assists. She went over 100 assists for the season with her performance on Sunday.

NIFTY FIFTY
Monmouth shot 55.1% from the field in the win at Hofstra on Sunday. It was the best field goal percentage by a Hawks' squad all season. It also marked the fifth time this season the Hawks have shot 50% or better from the field. Monmouth is 4-1 in those contests.

WE'VE GOT DOUBLE VISION
A pair of Hawks scored in double figures in Sunday's win on the road at Hofstra. Lovin Marsicano led the way with a season-high 18 points for the Hawks. It was the second straight game in double figures for Marsicano and third time this season she has reached that mark.

Ariana Vanderhoop scored 12 points in the win, including 10 in the second half. It was the 12th time this year that Vanderhoop has scored in double figures for the Hawks.

SCOUTING THE TRIBE
William & Mary will be looking to bounce back after a 55-47 loss to Drexel on Sunday. Riley Casey led the Tribe with 17 points in that contest. Casey leads William & Mary on the season with 17.9 points per game and has dished out 77 assists. Sydney Wagner contributes 16.1 points per game.

UP NEXT
Monmouth closes out the regular season on Saturday, March 4 when it hosts Stony Brook at 4 p.m. The Hawks will honor graduate students Lovin Marsicano, Bri Tinsley, Lucy Thomas and Jen Louro pregame.