FINAL SCORE
Monmouth 68 (22-9)
Buffalo 58 (19-14)

BUFFALO, N.Y. – A massive second quarter helped power the Monmouth University women's basketball team to a 68-58 win at the University of Buffalo in the first round of the WNIT on Thursday night. 
 
Monmouth took an early 7-4 lead on a Belle Kranbuhl bucket at 6:11. Buffalo responded with a 10-0 run to close out the first quarter and took a 14-7 lead after one. 
 
The two teams traded baskets to start the second quarter. Buffalo led 19-15 with 6:25 to go until the half. Kaci Donovan drained a pair of free throws at 5:58 that kick started an 18-2 run by the Hawks. 
 
That scoring spurt turned a four-point deficit into a 12-point advantage, 33-21 at the break. Jania Hall had seven points in that run while Rosalie Mercille dropped in a pair of triples. 
 
Buffalo cut the Monmouth lead to eight, 35-27. However, the Hawks responded with four straight points from Taisha Exanor and pushed the advantage back to 12, 39-27 with 4:37 to go in the period. The Bulls scored six straight and cut the Monmouth advantage to six, 39-33 with 3:05 showing on the clock. The Hawks scored four of the final six points in the period and led 43-35 at the end of three. 
 
Monmouth opened the fourth quarter on an 11-4 run and took its largest lead of the game 54-39 with 7:08 to play. Exanor had eight points in that stretch for the Hawks. The Hawks and Bulls continued to battle on both ends of the court as a Kranbuhl bucket at 4:35 gave Monmouth a 56-46 lead. Buffalo cut the lead to five, 60-55 with 1:32 to play. Hall and Sandrine Clesca combined to go 6-for-6 from the foul line in the final 45 seconds of the game to close out the 68-58 win. 

NOTES & QUOTES
"I'm incredibly proud of our grit and toughness. The defensive intensity and urgency carried us tonight. There is a tremendous amount of fight in these Hawks. I'm beyond proud to be their coach! Let's keep it rolling on the road."
    - Head coach Ginny Boggess

- The Hawks won its first post season game since defeating Dartmouth in a play-in game for the NCAA Tournament in 1982-83. 
- Monmouth recorded a win in its first ever meeting with Buffalo. 
- The victory over the Bulls gave Monmouth it's 22nd win of the season. The Hawks are tied with 1985-86 team for the third most wins in single-season history. Monmouth needs one more victory to match the school record of 23 held by 1986-87 and 2010-11 squads. 
- The victory over Buffalo gave Monmouth it's 13th straight win in a true road contest. The Hawks own the third longest road win streak in the country. 
- Monmouth finished with four blocks in the game, giving the Hawks 181 for the season. That gives this year's team the second most blocks in a single-season. Monmouth is just five blocks shy of tying the school record for blocks in a season. 
- Taisha Exanor paced the Hawks with a career-high 16 points in the contest. It was her seventh game in double figures this season. 
- Belle Kranbuhl finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds for her first double-double of the season and fifth of her career. 
- Jania Hall chipped in 15 points after going 9-for-9 from the foul line. It was her 15th game in double figures this season.

NUMBERS CRUNCH
- Monmouth shot 36.1%, including a solid 57.1% in the fourth quarter to close out the contest. 
- The Hawks held Buffalo to a 34.3 field goal percentage in the contest. 
- Monmouth took advantage of its chances at the foul line, shooting 20-for-22. It's the third time this season the Hawks have hit 20 or more free throws in a game. 
- The Hawks held a strong 47-38 edge in the rebounding battle. Monmouth is 6-2 this year when it grabs 45 or more rebounds in a game. 
- Monmouth held a 36-30 edge in the points in the paint. 
- Monmouth's bench outscored Buffalo, 25-7. 
 
NEXT UP
Monmouth will head to Duquesne for a second round WNIT match-up on Monday, Mar. 25 at 6 p.m.