2022-23 Monmouth Women's Basketball Game Thirty-One Preview
No. 7 Monmouth Hawks (15-15) vs. No. 2 Drexel Dragons (21-8)
Friday, March 10, 2023 - 5:00 p.m.
SECU Arena - Towson, MD
Watch
FloSports
Matt Janus (Play-by-Play)
Christine Motta (Color)
Opening Tip
• Fresh off a win in their first ever CAA Tournament game, the Hawks are back on the court to take on No. 2 Drexel in the quarterfinals.
• The Hawks, who were picked to finish tied for 10th in the preseason poll, earned the seventh seed in their first year in the league.
• This will seventh meeting all-time between the Hawks and Dragons. Drexel holds a 5-1 edge in the all-time series but the Hawks earned their first win when the two sides met in West Long Branch on Feb. 12.
• Monmouth's
Lucy Thomas became the program's all-time games played leader on Thursday night when she entered her 126th career game.
• Monmouth continues to distribute the ball well. The Hawks had 19 assists on 25 made baskets Thursday night. Monmouth dished out its 400th assist of the season in that game. Its the first time since the 2016-17 season with400 more assists in a single-season.
• MU hit eight three-pointers against College of Charleston. Monmouth improved to 11-6 when the Hawks hit eight or more triples in a game this season.
• After leading the CAA in blocks this year, junior center
Belle Kranbuhl was named to the CAA All-Defensive squad.
• MU recorded the 599th win in program history on March 9 against College of Charleston.
• MU enters today's contest leading the league in blocks per game (3.77). The Hawks have blocked five or more shots in a game nine times this season.
• The winner of today's game will advance to face the winner of Northeastern/Stony Brook tomorrow.
MISS ASSIST
The Hawks dished out 19 assists on 25 made baskets in the win over College of Charleston. Bri Tinsley and Belle Kranbuhl tied for the team lead with four each in the contest. Eight Hawks had at least one assist in the game. The Hawks have had at least one player with four assists in 23 of 30 games this season.
The Hawks come into Friday's action averaging 13.43 assists per game. Monmouth has handed out 15 or more assists in 13 games this season. The Hawks had a season-high 22 assists against Navy and handed out 21 assists versus Hofstra. Monmouth dished out it's 400th assist of the season on Thursday night. It is the first time since the 2016-17 season that the Hawks have had 400 or more assists in a season. Tinsley leads the Hawks on the season as she is averaging 3.7 assists per game, that ranks sixth in the league. Tinsley has five or more assists in nine games this year.
IRON HAWK
Lucy Thomas has been a mainstay in the Monmouth rotation since her arrival on campus for the 2018-19 season. On Thursday night, Thomas checked into the game in the first quarter and in doing so appeared in her 29th game of the year and 126th of her career. She broke Gabby Singer's school record for career games played in the process.
500 AND COUNTING
Kaci Donovan led the Hawks with 14 points on Thursday night. That gave her 206 for the season and 501 for her Monmouth career. Donovan joins teammates - Ariana Vanderhoop, Jen Louro and Lucy Thomas as Hawks to score 500 or more points while wearing a Monmouth uniform.
THE CHASE FOR 600
Thursday's win over College of Charleston was the Hawks' 15th of the season and 599 in program history. The Hawks have played 1,195 games entering Friday's action.
GOING ON THE OFFENSIVE
Monmouth battled on the boards all night Thursday, but especially on the offensive glass where the Hawks matched their season-high with 20 offensive rebounds. Lucy Thomas had six of her nine rebounds on the offensive glass while Belle Kranbuhl had four of her six on the offensive end.
The Hawks translated those 20 offensive rebounds into 18 second chances points against the Cougars.
NOT IN MY HOUSE
Monmouth recorded three blocks against College of Charleston on Thursday night. Belle Kranbuhl recorded all three rejections for the Hawks.
The Hawks have 113 blocks and are averaging 3.77 blocks per game. That ranks first in the CAA this season. The Hawks are 11-6 this season when they record four or more blocks in a game. They had a season-high nine blocks in the win over NJIT and matched that mark against College of Charleston. MU's efforts have been led by Kranbuhl, who has 55 blocks so far this year. Her 1.9 blocks per game is among the top three in the CAA this season.
QUICK STARTS PROVE KEY
One of the keys to succes for the Hawks on Thursday night was the quick start. Monmouth scored a season-high 27 points in the first 10 minutes of the win over College of Charleston. A fast start has been important to the Hawks all season as they are outscoring opponents 485-439 this year.
WE'VE GOT DOUBLE VISION
Three Hawks scored in double figures in the win over College of Charleston. Kaci Donovan and Bri Tinsley each scored 14 points while Ariana Vanderhoop chipped in 10 points. For Donovan, it was the 12th tim this year she has hit double figures. Tinsley leads the team having scored in double figures in 16 straight games. Vanderhoop has scored 10 or more points in 15 games this season.
SCOUTING THE DRAGONS
The Dragons are 21-8 on the year and finished in a tie for first place at the end of the CAA regular season. Drexel is powered by CAA Player of the Year Keishana Washington who is averaging 27 points per game and has dished out 113 assists. Kylie Lavelle is adding 10.9 points and 3.6 assists per game.
UP NEXT
The winner of today's game advances to face the winner of Northeastern and Stony Brook on Saturday, Mar. 11.
