FINAL SCORE
Monmouth (3-6) – 52
Rider (1-6) – 36
 
WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – The Monmouth University Women's Basketball Team made it a perfect 3-0 on the homestand winning a defensive battle, 52-36, at the OceanFirst Bank Center on Thursday night.

Junior forward Ella Farrelly scored eight of her nine total points in the first quarter to help the Hawks jump out to an 18-4 lead at the end of one. Farrelly knocked down a pair of corner threes, while Taisha Exanor added a three of her own in a quarter where Monmouth shot 40.0% and Rider shot 11.8% from the floor.
 
In her first action of the season, fifth-year guard Sandrine Clesca knocked down her first basket of 2024-25 on a three at 3:48 in the second quarter, putting Monmouth up 27-7 at the time – their largest lead of the contest. The Hawks owned a 28-14 advantage at the break and limited Rider to second chance opportunities behind 29 first half rebounds.

Divine Dibula (12 points, 8 rbs) had a strong second half to help keep the Broncs at arm's length. Rider was able to get the game within seven at 6:55 of the fourth, but Monmouth's offense responded with a 12-2 run. Damaris Rodriguez finished with a game-high 14 points and six assists while hitting a pair of triples.
 
NOTES & QUOTES
"I am proud that this team has stuck to it and has stuck together. They are applying all the things we have worked on in practice and the lessons we took away from our first six games. We have been working on our defense a lot, and I was proud with the defensive effort tonight." – Head Coach Cait Wetmore
 
"Really proud of the team. I feel like we are really starting to come together, and we are playing for one another. It was great seeing Dro [Clesca] on the court today. We wanted it for her." – Junior forward Ella Farrelly
 
- Tonight's 36 points is the fewest Rider has scored in the all-time series.
- It's the fewest points the Hawks have allowed in a win since 2015 (33, vs. Fairfield – Jan. 25)
- Dibula set a career high with 12 points and a season high with eight rebounds.
- The Hawks pulled in 49 rebounds which was a season high.
- Farrelly played a career high 38 minutes.
- Monmouth leads the all-time series, 25-24, in Division I games.
 
NUMBERS CRUNCH
- Monmouth's largest lead was 20 at 3:48 of the second quarter.
- Rider did not lead at any point.
- The Hawks won the rebounding battle, 43-38.
- Monmouth outscored Rider, 12-5, off turnovers.
- Monmouth had more points in the paint, 20-18.
- Monmouth had more second chance points, 8-5.
- Rider had more fastbreak points, 5-4.
- MU had more bench points, 18-11.
- Rider had two fewer turnovers, 17-15.
 
UP NEXT
The Hawks head back on the road with a quick stop in Newark to play NJIT on Monday, Dec. 9. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+ at 7 p.m.