FINAL SCORE
Monmouth (7-7, 2-1 CAA) – 56
Towson (3-11, 1-2 CAA) – 54
 
TOWSON, Md. – Belle Kranbuhl notched a career-high 22 points as the Monmouth University Women's Basketball Team narrowly defeated Towson, 56-54, in Maryland on Friday afternoon.

Kranbuhl was efficient from the get-go, making 11 of her 13 shots on the afternoon and chipping in with eight rebounds. Her previous high in points came back on Feb. 14, 2021, where she scored 20 at Saint Peter's as a sophomore.

After the Tigers used a 7-0 run in the third quarter, Monmouth found themselves in a 41-41 tie entering the fourth. The teams traded buckets back-and-forth until Ella Farrelly banked in a three-pointer after Kranbuhl pulled down an offensive rebound with 3:32 remaining. It would be Monmouth's final field goal of the afternoon – and just its second made three all game – to put the score at 54-51, Hawks. Farrelly finished with 10 points and 13 rebounds, marking her third double-double on the season.

Damaris Rodriguez (12 points) and Taisha Exanor (5 points, 10 rebounds) each recorded a made free throw to put Monmouth up by five late. The Monmouth defense stood tall down the stretch holding Towson without a made field goal in 4:30 of consecutive game time. The Tigers were able to close the gap with two seconds remaining, but their final effort was thwarted on a loose ball as time expired.
 
NOTES & QUOTES
"Towson made this a tough road win for us. We had players step up and get our offense going when we needed it. I thought we kept fighting through streaks and were able to stay focused down the stretch."  – Head Coach Cait Wetmore
 
- Cait Wetmore earned her first career road win in CAA play.
- Monmouth is 2-0 in their last two road games overall.
- Farrelly played a full 40:00 and recorded her third double-double of the season.
- It's the seventh time three Hawks have finished with 10+ points.
- The Hawks held Towson to just 7.1% (1-of-14) from deep.
- Monmouth leads the all-time series, 4-1.
 
NUMBERS CRUNCH
- The game featured two lead changes and five ties.
- Monmouth made 41.4% of its field goals to Towson's 34.8%.
- Monmouth won the rebounding battle, 47-34.
- Towson outscored MU, 12-2, off turnovers.
- Monmouth had more points in the paint, 42-28.
- The Hawks had more second chance points, 15-11.
- Towson had more fastbreak points, 6-0.
- TU had more bench points, 32-8.
- Monmouth lost the turnover battle, 17-6.
 
UP NEXT
The Hawks return home to take on William & Mary on Sunday, Jan. 12. The game will be broadcast live on FloCollege, SNY and NBC Sports Philadelphia at 2 p.m.