FINAL SCORE
Monmouth 72 (14-15, 9-9 CAA)
Stony Brook 71 (17-12, 11-7 CAA))

WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – Bri Tinsley scored a driving lay-up with 5.8 seconds to play, which gave the Monmouth University women's basketball team a 72-71 win over Stony Brook University on Saturday afternoon in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) regular season finale for both squads. 
 
Lovin Marsicano and Lucy Thomas led Monmouth with 14 points each while Kaci Donovan added 11 points. Ariana Vanderhoop had a game-high 10 rebounds for the Hawks. Anastasia Warren and Daishai Almond had 21 points each for Stony Brook. 
 
The home team sprinted out to a 9-3 lead as Marsicano knocked down a three-pointer at the 5:37 mark. The two teams traded points as a traditional three-point play from Ella Farrelly at 1:36 extended the Monmouth advantage to 15-7. Stony Brook scored the final four points of the period but the Hawks led 15-11 after one. 
 
The Hawks got hot from three-point range in the second period. At one point, Monmouth got six baskets in a row from behind the arc. That battle left the Hawks with a 36-26 lead with 2:14 to go until the half. Jen Louro and Tinsley each had two triples in that stretch. Stony Brook got a three-pointer at the buzzer but the Hawks led 38-31 at the break. 
 
Marsicano had five of the first seven points in the third quarter as Monmouth pushed its lead to 43-33 with 7:46 left on the clock. The Hawks and Seawolves traded points on each end of the floor. Donovan converted all three chances from the foul line at 4:57 and the home team led 48-40. A late three from Thomas gave the Hawks a 57-44 lead at the end of three. 
 
Monmouth scored 10 of the first 18 points in the fourth quarter and pushed its lead to 68-52, its largest lead of the game with 5:07 to play. Stony Brook responded with 16-0 run that tied the game at 68-68 with 1:06 to play. The Hawks went back on top, 70-68 on a Thomas' bucket 43 seconds to play. Stony Brook got a three-pointer from Warren at 19 seconds and took a 71-70 lead. The Hawks called timeout and ran the play that led to Tinsley's bucket and a 72-71 lead. Stony Brook got one last chance but the Monmouth defense stood tall and the Hawks claimed victory. 

NOTES & QUOTES
"I am so happy we could send our seniors off with a win tonight in front of an electric crowd. I've been saying all these close games will pay off and it did tonight, our execution and togetherness down the stretch was the difference. I hope to see everyone at Towson for the tournament."
- Head Coach Ginny Boggess

- Monmouth honored graduate students Lovin Marsicano, Bri Tinsley, Jen Louro and Lucy Thomas along with their senior managers before the game.
- The Hawks secured the seventh seed for the upcoming CAA Tournament with the win on Saturday.
- Monmouth handed out 19 assists on 26 made baskets on Saturday. 
- MU tied its season-high with 11 made three-pointers in the contest. It was the fifth time this season the Hawks have hit 11 three-pointers in a game. 
- Monmouth won the rebounding battle, 38-33 as all 10 players recorded at least one board.     

 NUMBERS CRUNCH
- Lovin Marsicano scored in double figures for the third time in the last four games and matched her season-high with four three-pointers made. 
- Ariana Vanderhoop had 10 rebounds in the game. It was the fifth time this season she has grabbed 10 or more rebounds in a game.
- Vanderhoop also had a career-high six assists in the game. 
- Lucy Thomas scored in double figures for the 11th time this season. 

NEXT UP
Monmouth is back on the court on when it begins its CAA Tournament run on Thursday, March 9. The Hawks will take on the 10th seed the College of Charleston at 5 p.m.