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WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ — After a dominant win over the Binghamton Bearcats, Monmouth University is set to host the Lehigh Mountain Hawks at the Hackensack Meridian Athletic Center (HMAC) Friday at 6 p.m.
The Hawks (1-0, 0-0 CAA) opened the regular season strong after routing Binghamton (0-1, 0-0 AEC) 63-40 at home. CAA Preseason Player of the Year
Gigi Gamble led all scorers with 19 points alongside three steals and two rebounds, while Preseason First-Team select
Divine Dibula followed with her first double-double of the year and 10th of her career, tallying 17 points and 10 boards.
The hosts outscored the Bearcats in all four quarters and led in points off turnovers, points in the paint and fast-break points. However, Monmouth's defensive energy secured the win, as the unit held Binghamton to just over 20 percent shooting and caused 24 turnovers with 13 steals.
"At times we were really aggressive and that was fruitful for us," said head coach
Cait Wetmore after the game. "Just want to see that for 40 minutes."
Wetmore and the Hawks will get their next opportunity to sharpen their defense against Lehigh.
A familiar opponent for Monmouth, the team faced the Mountain Hawks in the first round of the WNIT last March with the Hawks earning the 72-62 win. It was Monmouth's first victory over Lehigh since 2017.
Gallery: (11-2-2026) Women's Basketball vs. Binghamton 11/2/2
The Mountain Hawks (0-1, 0-0 Patriot League) kicked off their season in Los Angeles, where they faced No. 11 nationally ranked and defending national champion UCLA. The Bruins defeated Lehigh 73-53, a win secured by an explosive third quarter in which the hosts outscored the Mountain Hawks 23-9.
Although Lehigh was more successful shooting from 3-point range and from the charity stripe, UCLA dominated from the field, with 60 of their 73 points coming from inside the arc, and the hosts also led in every other statistical category. Despite the 20-point loss, the Mountain Hawks' youthful lineup gained experience heading into their second contest of the season against Monmouth.
Three of Lehigh's starting five against the Bruins were underclassmen, including sophomore guard/forward Leia Edwards, who led the Mountain Hawks against UCLA with 14 points and eight boards. The London native earned Patriot League All-Rookie Team and Patriot League All-Tournament Team honors last season and led Lehigh in rebounds with 131.
In the Patriot League preseason polls, Edwards was named to the Preseason All-Patriot League team in addition to Lehigh being voted third in the conference, sitting just below Army West Point and No. 1 Navy, who landed on top of the standings with 81 points and nine first-place votes.
Along with Edwards, the Mountain Hawks return impact players in senior guard and captain Gracyn Lovette, junior guard/forward Belle Bramer and senior guard Whitney Lind, who earned Third Team All-Patriot League honors last year.
Despite losing star Lily Fandre from last season, who led the team in points with 475 on the year, but Lehigh looks to remedy the deficit with its nine returning players and four standout newcomers.
The Mountain Hawks brought in freshman guards Olivia Fleming, Ryann Jennings and Mia Washington, as well as forward Olivia Johnston. Fleming and Jennings both started and combined for 13 points against UCLA, while Washington and Johnston both came off the bench in the contest.
GAME INFO
Monmouth Hawks (1-0, 0-0 CAA) vs. Lehigh Mountain Hawks (0-1, 0-0 Patriot League)
Friday, Nov. 6 at 6 p.m.
Hackensack Meridian Athletic Center (HMAC)
West Long Branch, NJ
WATCH:
Live: FloCollege/NBC Sports Philadelphia
Play-by-Play: Jack Barteck
Analyst: Dominque Patrick
TICKETING:
- NJ Teacher's Convention Week — kids attend free with purchase of adult ticket
- Fansgiving — give canned goods for the Nest and receive a voucher for select games
- Fan loyalty card launch (attend seven women's game and receive a prize)
BUY TICKETS TODAY BY CLICKING HERE
NEXT UP
- The Hawks will travel to face Rutgers on Nov. 11 at 7 p.m.
- The game will be broadcast live on B1G+
- In the last matchup between the teams in 2023, the Scarlet Knights edged out Monmouth 56-51 to remain unbeaten by the Hawks in the programs' histories.
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