FINAL SCORE
Monmouth (4-6) – 63
NJIT (2-9) – 54
 
NEWARK, N.J. – Forward Taisha Exanor (17 points, 11 rebounds) recorded her third double-double of the season en route to a 63-54 win for the Monmouth University Women's Basketball Team over NJIT on Monday night.

The win is the first road victory for the Hawks this season and fourth in a row, improving their overall record to 4-6 with one non-conference game remaining.

Down 10-3 early, Monmouth finished the first quarter on an 8-0 run, holding NJIT scoreless for the final 6:08 to take an 11-10 lead into the first break. The Hawks defense held strong for 7:57 of consecutive game time, as Highlanders did not score again until the 8:11 mark of the second.
 
A pair of Belle Kranbuhl and-ones bookended a Damaris Rodriguez three pointer to put Monmouth ahead 27-20 at 3:02. Kranbuhl was a big reason the Hawks led 30-24 at the half, behind her 10 points – which led all scorers at the time – including a perfect 4-of-4 from the foul line. Despite shooting just 1-of-9 from three in the first half, the Hawks were able to garner some second chance points thanks to dominating the rebounding battle, 25-14.

Exanor started to assert her dominance in the third and carried that momentum into the fourth totaling 13 points and eight rebounds in the game's final 20 minutes. NJIT used a quick 7-2 run in the fourth to cut the deficit down to five, but a Divine Dibula driving layup at 7:11 and an Exanor layup after she grabbed three consecutive offensive rebounds put MU back ahead by nine, 50-41.

Down the stretch, the Hawks outrebounded the Highlanders 12-3 and went 7-of-10 from the free throw line to secure the victory.
 
NOTES & QUOTES
"I am really proud of this team win. We got contributions and consistency from up and down the lineup. I thought we were steady throughout the game, and our bench came in and gave really solid minutes." – Head Coach Cait Wetmore
 
- Monmouth tied a season high with 17 made free throws.
- During the four-game win streak, opponents are shooting just 31.0% (76-of-245) agsinst the Hawks defense.
- Exanor recorded her third double-double of the season.
- The Hawks pulled in 48 rebounds, one shy of their season high.
- Kellyn Preira recorded her first career block.
- Monmouth leads the all-time series, 5-0.
 
NUMBERS CRUNCH
- The game featured just two lead changes and two ties.
- The Hawks held the lead for 30:19 to NJIT's 7:51.
- The Hawks won the rebounding battle, 47-28.
- NJIT outscored Monmouth, 15-12, off turnovers.
- Monmouth had more points in the paint, 36-24.
- Monmouth had more second chance points, 10-9.
- MU had more fastbreak points, 10-1.
- MU had more bench points, 18-10.
- NJIT had three fewer turnovers, 19-16.
 
UP NEXT
The Hawks have 11 days off before hosting American on Saturday, Dec. 21 at 4:30 p.m. The game will come on the heels of the Monmouth Men's Basketball game at 1 p.m. and will be broadcast live on FloCollege and NBC Sports Philadelphia.