FINAL SCORE
Elon 65 (6-12, 2-3 CAA)
Monmouth 60 (9-6, 2-2 CAA)

WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Kaci Donovan scored a team-high 16 points, but Elon University used a big third quarter to rally for a 65-60 win over the Monmouth University women's basketball team in Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) action on Friday afternoon.
 
With the Hawks trailing 8-6 in the first, Monmouth went on a 13-2 run and took a 19-10 lead with 1:48 to go in the period. Jania Hall had five points in that scoring spurt for the Hawks. A late pair of free throws from Sandrine Clesca gave Monmouth a 21-14 lead after one.
 
Monmouth scored six of the first 10 points in the second period and led 27-18 with 6:47 to go until the half. Ariana Vanderhoop had five points in that stretch. Back-to-back buckets from Vanderhoop gave the home team a 31-21 advantage with 5:21 left on the clock. The two teams battled down the stretch as Donovan hit 1-of-2 from the line with one second left which gave Monmouth a 37-30 lead at the break. 
 
Elon scored the first basket of the third, but Monmouth responded with a 7-0 run and took its largest lead of the game, 44-32 with 8:05 remaining in the period. Elon used a 9-0 run to cut the Monmouth lead to 44-41 with 4:32 showing on the clock. That scoring spurt for the visitors was part of a bigger 17-2 run which gave Elon a 49-46 lead after three. 
 
Elon pushed its lead to five to start the fourth quarter before a triple from Taisha Exanor made it a two-point game, 53-51 with 7:23 left in the contest. Elon pushed its advantage back to six, before a Donovan triple made it a 57-54 game with 1:46 to go. The Elon lead fluctuated between five and eight points over the final minute plus as the Phoenix closed out a 65-60 win.  

NOTES & QUOTES
"Huge thanks to everyone who braved the snow to support us! Credit to Elon for challenging our toughness and discipline, especially with the big second half push."
    - Head coach Ginny Boggess

- Elon improves to 2-1 all-time against the Hawks. 
- Kaci Donovan finished with a team-high 16 points. It was her 11th game this season in double figures. 
- Ariana Vanderhoop contributed 13 points and reached double figures for the eighth time this season.
- Belle Kranbuhl finished with two blocks in the contest and will enter Sunday's game needing just four more to reach 200 for her career. 
- Rosalie Mercille made the first start of her rookie career. 

NUMBERS CRUNCH
- Monmouth finished the game shooting 38.3% from the field while Elon posted a 43.5 field goal percentage. 
- Both teams were solid from the foul line as Monmouth hit 9-of-11 while Elon connected on 7-of-11. 
- Monmouth held a slim 37-36 advantage in the rebounding battle. 
- The Hawks matched their season-high with nine blocks in the contest. Taisha Exanor had a team-high three rejections for Monmouth. 
- Both teams did most of their scoring in the paint as Monmouth had 30 points in the paint and Elon scored 32 in the paint. 
  
NEXT UP
Monmouth is back in action on Sunday, Jan. 21 when it visit Drexel for a 1 p.m. game.