2022-23 Monmouth Women's Basketball Game Thirty-Two Preview
                                                                                       
No. 7 Monmouth Hawks (16-15) vs. No. 3 Northeastern Huskies (19-11)
Saturday, March 11, 2023 - 4:30 p.m. 
SECU Arena - Towson, MD

Watch
FloSports
Ben Rosenbaum (Play-by-Play)
Monika Moore (Color)

Opening Tip
• After taking out No. 2 Drexel in the quarterfinals, the Hawks are back in action to face No. 3 Northeastern in the semifinals.
• 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 be the third meeting all-time between the Hawks and Huskies and both of the previous meetings came this season. The home team won both times the teams met in the regular season.
• Monmouth has reached the semifinals of the conference tournament for the first time since the 2018-19 squad faced Quinnipiac in the MAAC Semifinals.
• One of the keys to success for the Hawks has been outrebounding their opponents. Monmouth won the rebounding battle against Drexel and it was the 22nd time this season the Hawks have outrebounded their opponents.
• MU had 10 steals in the win over Drexel. The Hawks are 3-1 this season when they record 10 or more steals in a game.
• After leading the CAA in blocks this year, junior center Belle Kranbuhl was named to the CAA All-Defensive squad.
• MU recorded the 600th win in program history on March 10 against Drexel. The Hawks are in their 40th season of basketball.
• MU enters today's contest leading the league in blocks per game (3.71). 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 Towson/William & Mary in the CAA Championship.

THE CHASE FOR 600
Friday's win over Drexel was the Hawks' 16th win of the season and 600th in program history. The Hawks have played 1,196 games in their 40 seasons entering Saturday's game. 

MAKING A GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION
The Hawks have found plenty of success in their first appearance in the CAA Tournament. Monmouth has won both of its first two games and is outscoring opponents by a +10.5 margin in that stretch. The Hawks are killing the boards in the first two games with a +13.5 rebounding margin. Three Hawks are averaging 10 or more points per game and that group is led by Bri Tinsley who is tossing in 14 points per game. Both Belle Kranbuhl and Lucy Thomas are averaging 7.0 rebounds per game or better.

I'LL TAKE THAT
Led by a career-high five steals from Lovin Marsicano, the Hawks had 10 steals in Friday's win over Drexel. In addition to Marsicano's five, Monmouth got a pair of steals from Jania Hall. MU improved to 3-1 on the year when it records 10 or more steals in a game. The Hawks had a season-high 12 steals in its first meeting with Northeastern this year. Bri Tinsley leads the Hawks on the season with 32 steals.

WE'LL TAKE THE CHARITY
Monmouth took advantage of its chances at the free throw line on Friday night. The Hawks were 18-for-21 from the charity stripe against the Dragons, including 10-of-12 in the closing quarter. Jania Hall led the Hawks in the contest as she went 5-for-6 from the stripe. It was the fifth time this season the Hawks have made 16 or more shots from the foul line in a single-game. 

WE'VE GOT DOUBLE VISION
Three Hawks scored in double figures in the win over Drexel Friday night. The Hawks improved to 9-2 on the year when three players reach double figures in the same game. Bri Tinsley had 14 points in the contest. It was her second straight game in double figures and team leading 17th time this season. Lovin Marsicano chipped in 13 points in the game. She reached the double digit mark for the fourth time in six games and fifth time this season. Jania Hall had a season-high 11 points and reached double figures for the second time this season.

CLEANING THE GLASS
Monmouth won the rebounding battle, 34-25 against Drexel. Seven Hawks who appeared in that game pulled down at least one rebound. Belle Kranbuhl pulled down a team-high nine rebounds while Ariana Vanderhoop, Lucy Thomas and Bri Tinsley each had five boards.

It was the 22nd time this season the Hawks have won the rebounding battle. Monmouth is now 14-8 on the year when it wins the rebounding battle against its opponent. Monmouth comes into the semifinals tied for second in the CAA with a +3.7 rebounding margin.

MISS ASSIST
The Hawks dished out 11 assists on 20 made baskets in the win over Drexel. Ariana Vanderhoop led the Hawks with four assists while Belle Kranbuhl and Jania Hall had two each. Six Hawks had at least one assist in the game. The Hawks have had at least one player with four assists in 24 of 31 games this season.

The Hawks come into Saturday's action averaging 13.35 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. Bri Tinsley leads the Hawks on the season as she is averaging 3.6assists per game, that ranks sixth in the league. Tinsley has five or more assists in nine games this year. 

GOING DEEP
Monmouth knocked down seven three-pointers in the win over Drexel. Lovin Marsicano, Bri Tinsley and Kaci Donovan all had two triples against the Dragons. Monmouth has hit at least eight three-pointers in five of its last six games and 17 times this season. The Hawks have connected on a season-high 11 three-pointers in a game, five times this year (Navy, BYU, N.C. A&T, Hofstra, Stony Brook). Monmouth enters the semifinals leading the CAA while averaging 7.6 three-pointers per game.

SCOUTING THE HUSKIES
Northeastern has won nine straight games following an 85-68 win over Stony Brook in the CAA quarterfinals. Derin Erdogan paced the Huskies with 27 points and 10 assists in the win over the Seawolves. She leads Northeastern on the season while averaging 15.1 points per game and has dished out 121 assists. Gemima Motema is adding 12.8 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. 

UP NEXT
The winner of today's game advances to face the winner of Towson/William & Mary in the CAA Championship game on Sunday.