On Sunday, Nov. 28, the Monmouth University Women’s Basketball (2-2, 0-0 MAAC) team fell to the Providence Friars (2-4. 0-0 Big East) in a non-conference road trip.
The Friars instantly got a grasp of an advantage after they shot an adequate 57 percent in the first quarter from the field. The matchup started with a score of 17-6. The second quarter started off with a layup from Monmouth’s senior forward, Lucy Thomas. She brought the deficit to single digits but Providence soon retaliated with a lengthy run. They built their lead back up and held their control over the Hawks for the rest of the game.
Sophomore guard Kaci Donovan finished the game as Monmouth’s leading scorer. Donovan racked in seven points while fellow sophomore guard Jania Hall scored five points. Graduate student guard Stella Clark, sophomore center Belle Kranbuhl, and redshirt senior guard Jen Louro each scored four points.
This disappointing loss for the Hawks comes after the team’s late win against Saint Joseph’s (1-2) last Wednesday. The Monmouth Hawks beat the Saint Joseph Hawks 57-45 in their second consecutive home defeat at the OceanFirst Bank Center.
Before Monmouth held on to their 14-4 run late in the game, the ladies saw their lead in the second half become unsteady. St. Joe’s went on their own 14-5 run which spanned close to 10 minutes and brought the Hawks within two points.
The score became 43-41. Monmouth did not allow the other Hawks to have much success and responded with their lengthy late run to seal the deal.
Stella Clark had an outstanding performance. Clark scored 11 points along with seven boards, five assists, and a pair of steals. Sophomore guard Ariana Vanderhoop and Jania Hall combined for 18 points with and even nine apiece. The two girls also both committed four rebounds.
To add onto the team’s success, Jen Louro achieved her season-best eight in scoring. Kaci Donovan also scored eight off the bench.
Looking ahead, the Monmouth Hawks face Sacred Heart on December 2 in a home matchup at 7 pm.
