FINAL SCORE
Monmouth 61 (17-8, 10-4 CAA)
Drexel 55 (11-13, 6-7 CAA)

WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Ariana Vanderhoop and Kaci Donovan combined for 40 points and helped the Monmouth University women's basketball defense lock down in a 61-55 win over Drexel University in Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) play on Friday night. 
 
With Monmouth leading 8-5 in the first quarter, Drexel used a 5-0 run to take a 10-8 lead with 3:09 left in the period. The Hawks got a triple from Vanderhoop with 1:12 showing on the clock and took an 11-10 lead after one.
 
Monmouth opened the second quarter on a 9-4 run and took a 20-14 lead with 4:39 to go until the break. Ella Farrelly had five points for the Hawks in that stretch. After Drexel got a bucket to cut it to four, the Hawks closed the period on a 8-2 run and took a 28-18 lead at the break. Vanderhoop and Donovan contributed six of the eight points in that stretch. 
 
Vanderhoop hit the first bucket of the third quarter as Monmouth held its largest lead of the game, 31-18 with 9:21 showing on the clock. The Dragons responded with a hot shooting hand as the visitors hit four three-pointers and cut the Monmouth lead to three, 40-37 at the end of the period. 
 
Monmouth opened the fourth quarter on a 7-2 run and took a 47-39 lead with 7:51 to play. Sandrine Clesca scored five points in that stretch that forced Drexel to call timeout. The Dragons cut the lead to four, 49-45 with 5:06 to play. Donovan scored seven of the game's next 11 points and pushed the Monmouth lead to 11, 58-47 with 1:43 left. The Hawks lead would fluctuate between four and eight points over the final 1:30 but a pair of late free throws from Vanderhoop closed out the 61-55 win.

NOTES & QUOTES
"What a defensive effort by our entire team tonight. I was so proud of our composure after a very rocky start with so many turnovers in that first quarter. We never wavered on the game plan and stayed tough on the boards to protect our home court."
    - Head coach Ginny Boggess

- The Hawks completed the season sweep of the Dragons with the victory. Drexel leads the all-time series, 5-4 but the Hawks have won four straight over the Dragons.
- With four games remaining in the regular season, the Hawks need just one more win to match their season total from a year ago.
- The win over the Dragons gave the Hawks' 10 conference wins. It is the most conference victories in a single season since the 2015-16 team won 11 games as part of the MAAC.  
- Ariana Vanderhoop led the Hawks with a season-high 21 points in the game. It was the third 20+ point performance of Vanderhoop's career. It was also the 12th double digit game of the season for Vanderhooop. 
- Kaci Donovan finished with 19 points for the Hawks. It was her 16th game this season scoring in double figures. 
- Taisha Exanor pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds in the contest. It was her third game this season with double digit rebounds.  
- Belle Kranbuhl led the Hawks with three blocks. It was her 13th game this season with at least three blocks in a contest. She matched her season-high with 64 blocks for the year.  

NUMBERS CRUNCH
- Monmouth shot a season-best 51% from the field in the contest. It's the third time this season the Hawks have shot 50% or better from the floor. 
- Monmouth held Drexel to just a 34.8 field goal percentage in the contest. The Hawks held Drexel to a 25.0 field goal percentage for the first half. 
-  Monmouth out rebounded the Dragons, 41-28 in the contest. The Hawks improve to 12-2 on the year when they pull down 40 or more rebounds in a game. 
 
NEXT UP
Monmouth wraps up the weekend when it hosts College of Charleston on Sunday, Feb. 25 at 2 p.m.