2023-24 Monmouth Women's Basketball Game Thirty Preview
Monmouth Hawks (21-8, 14-4 CAA) vs. No. 7 Drexel/No. 10 Delaware
Friday, Mar. 15, 2024 - 5:00 p.m.
Entertainment and Sports Arena - Washington, D.C.
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OPENING TIP
• The Hawks open their second Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) Tournament run as the number two seed in the quarterfinals.
• MU closed out the regular season on a 7-game win streak. The Hawks are on their longest win streak under head coach
Ginny Boggess.
• Monmouth ended the regular season on a 12-game road win streak. That set the school record and is the third longest road win streak in the country.
• This will be either the third meeting of the season with Drexel or the second meeting of the season with Delaware.
• Senior guard
Jania Hall was named the CAA Sixth Player of the Year after averaging 8.7 points with 50+ assists.
• Monmouth enters the tournament with 21 wins. It is the fourth most wins in single-season history at Monmouth and two shy of the school record for wins in a season.
• Monmouth has 171 blocks this season. The Hawks need eight more blocks to match the 1985-86 team for the second most blocks in single-season history at Monmouth.
• Senior guards
Kaci Donovan and
Ariana Vanderhoop took home Third Team All-CAA accolades.
• Monmouth entered play this weekend ranked fourth nationally in blocks per game (5.9).
• Senior center
Belle Kranbuhl was named to the CAA All-Defensive Team for the second straight year.
• Monmouth knocked down 10 three-pointers in the win over UNCW. The Hawks improved to 5-0 on the year when they hit 10 or more three-pointers in a game.
• The Hawks enter the CAA Tournament leading the league in rebounding margin at +8.1.
HELLO FRIEND, NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN
The Hawks make their second ever appearance in the CAA Tournament this weekend. Last year, Monmouth's first in the league, the Hawks made a splash in their first tournament. Monmouth won four games in four days as the seventh seed to capture the title. The Hawks knocked off the one, two, three and 10 seeds en route to hoisting the trophy.
I'M HONORED
The Hawks were well represented as the CAA released its end of the year awards on Tuesday afternoon. Senior guard Jania Hall was named the CAA Sixth Player of the Year to lead the accolades. Hall averaged 8.7 points per game with 55 assists off the bench. She is the third player in program history to win a Sixth Player of the Year award.
Senior guards Kaci Donovan and Ariana Vanderhoop both took home All-CAA Third Team accolades. Donovan averaged 12.2 points and 3.9 rebounds per game while Vanderhoop contributed 10.6 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. Senior center Belle Kranbuhl took home a spot on the CAA All-Defensive Team for the second straight season. Kranbuhl ranked among the the CAA leaders while averaging 7.6 rebounds and 2.55 blocks per game.
RACKING UP THE WINS
Saturday's win over UNCW improved the Hawks to 21-8 overall and 14-4 in CAA play. Monmouth recorded 20 wins in a season for the first time since the 2010-11 team won at least 20 games. It's the sixth time in program history, the Hawks have won at least 20 games in a season. The win also gave the Hawks' their 14th win in conference play. It's the first time since the 2010-11 team that the Hawks have won at least 13 games in conference play and its the third most conference wins in program history.
KEEP THOSE STREAKS ROLLING
Monmouth closed out the regular season with a pair of impressive streaks. The win over UNCW was Monmouth's seventh straight victory and it's road win at Towson gave the Hawks their 12th straight win on the road.
The seven straight wins gives Monmouth its longest win streak under head coach Ginny Boggess and is the longest win streak by a Monmouth squad since the 2011-12 team won eight straight.
Monmouth closed out its regular season road slate with 12 straight wins. It's the longest road win streak in program history and the Hawks enter play this weekend with the third longest current road win streak in the country.
BE BIG IN THE LANE
The Hawks had six blocks in the win over UNCW on Saturday. Taisha Exanor led the way with two blocks while four other Hawks registered at least one rejection in the game.
That brings the Monmouth blocks total for the season to 171. The Hawks moved past the 1990-91 (161) team for the third most blocks in a single-season. The Hawks need eight more blocks to move into a tie for second on the single-season list.
So far this season, the Hawks have recorded at least six blocks in 16 of 29 games. The Hawks are 4th nationally in blocks per game (5.9). Monmouth has posted at least eight blocks in a game eight times this season. Belle Kranbuhl leads the Hawks with 74 blocks and ranks 13th nationally in blocks per game (2.55). Twelve different Hawks have recorded at least one block this season.
I'M HONORED (PART TWO)
Rosalie Mercille was named the CAA Rookie of the Week on Monday as the league announced its final weekly award winners. Mercille averaged 15.5 points per game while helping the Hawks to a pair of wins to clinch the two seed for the playoffs. Mercille matched her career-high with 20 points in the victory over Towson and added 11 points in the win over UNCW. She knocked down eight triples in the two games combined. Mercille became the second Hawk to be honored by the CAA this season.
SCOUTING THE DRAGONS
Drexel enters its CAA Second Round match-up with Delaware having won three straight games. Amaris Baker leads the Dragons as she is averaging 10.7 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. Brooke Mullin is addng 10.3 points per game with 110 assists on the season.
SCOUTING THE BLUE HENS
Delaware comes into its match-up with Drexel in the second round having lost four of its last five games. Chloe Wilson leads the Blue Hens while averaging 11.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. Tara Cousins is contributing 10.5 points per game and adding 64 assists.
UP NEXT
The winner of Friday's quarterfinal will advance to Saturday's semifinals to face either No. 3 College of Charleston or the winner of the Towson and Northeastern/UNCW game.
