FINAL SCORE
Monmouth (5-6) – 64
American (0-10) – 51
 
WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – The Monmouth University Women's Basketball Team has won five straight games after defeating the American Eagles, 64-51, on Saturday at the OceanFirst Bank Center.
 
With the victory, the Hawks close out non-conference play 5-6 overall, are 4-1 at home, and boast a perfect 4-0 record in the month of December.
 
Trailing 46-43 entering the third quarter, Monmouth outscored American 21-5 in the final frame to seal the win, including nine points from Taisha Exanor and six from Divine Dibula down the stretch. After starting off the game just 4-of-12 from the free throw line, the Hawks went a perfect 6-of-6 in the fourth.
 
Junior forward Ella Farrelly was a major factor finishing with 11 points and a game high 12 rebounds, all while chipping in four blocks and three steals in 39:35 of playing time. Exanor led the Hawks offense with 13 points, while Dibula was the other Hawk in double figures with 10.
 
NOTES & QUOTES
"I don't think we played our best game through the first three quarters, so we just kept harping on getting back to our fundamentals and doing the things that we are supposed to do. The press got us going a little bit, and we started to communicate better.
 
This team has stuck together. They have showed up to work every single day, and I do think this is a result of the hard work they are putting in." – Head Coach Cait Wetmore
 
"I am the type of player where I want my defense to fuel my offense. I start with crashing the boards to get my team going, and then that gives me the confidence to shoot well offensively." – Ella Farrelly
 
- Monmouth hit a season high eight three pointers on 27 attempts, also a season high.
- Fifteen assists and 14 steals are also season highs for the Hawks.
- Rachel Kuhl played in her first game with Monmouth and hit two threes.
- Farrelly recorded her second double-double of the season and tied a career high with four blocks.
- Divine Dibula finished as a +19 for the game.
- American leads the all-time series, 4-3.
 
NUMBERS CRUNCH
- The game featured 13 lead changes and seven ties.
- The Hawks held the lead for 22:49 to American's 12:07.
- The Hawks won the rebounding battle, 42-34.
- MU outscored American, 22-6, off turnovers.
- Monmouth had more points in the paint, 28-16.
- Monmouth had more second chance points, 14-8.
- MU had more fastbreak points, 10-0.
- MU had more bench points, 19-11.
- Monmouth won the turnover battle, 21-13.
 
UP NEXT
The Hawks enter the CAA schedule with a 5-6 record overall. Hofstra comes to the OceanFirst Bank Center on Friday, Jan. 3. The game will be broadcast live on FloCollege, SNY and NBC Sports Philadelphia at 7 p.m.