In games on Friday, Jan. 27 and Sunday, Jan. 29 respectively, the Monmouth University women’s basketball team picked up a win and a loss in two tough matchups against CAA opponents Hampton and Northeastern.
In the first of the two games, the Hawks (10-10, 5-4 CAA) pulled out a 13-point win against the Hampton Pirates (6-12, 3-5 CAA), beating the CAA foes 69-56. At the start of the matchup, Monmouth came out forcefully, drawing fouls contributing to a 7-2 lead early on, courtesy of junior guard Kaci Donovan going 5-6 from the line to give the Hawks the early boost.
After ending the first quarter down 19-14, however, two dynamic forces of Hampton, Nylah Young and Camryn Hill, were able to shrink the lead of the Hawks’ down to just two at the half (34-32). The pair, both dangerous from beyond the arc, ended the game with 16 points each.
Coming out of the locker room, the Hawks were able to pull away once again, a nod to the Hawks’ depth and productivity off the bench. From junior center Belle Kranbul’s 10 boards to two key three-pointers from graduate student Jen Louro, the Hawks were able to secure a comfortable 52-44 lead going into the final quarter. Ending the game with a decisive 69-56 win, the Hawks put on an impressive display of ability on both ends of the court. Not only did Monmouth outrebound Hampton 47-27, the Hawks capitalized off of the Pirates’ turnovers, scoring 22 points off of 12 TOs.
Not only was the night meaningful for the Hawks and their season, but the entire Monmouth University community. The game, also MSAAC’s Pride night, was a celebration of inclusivity and understanding.
Head Coach Ginny Boggess provided her thoughts on the event and her team’s performance, “I love how our community and student-athletes support one another and embody inclusivity. This was a great defensive effort and I’m really proud of everyone stepping up and playing their role.”
Just two days later, the Hawks traveled to Boston to take on the Northeastern Huskies in their second matchup of the weekend. In the heartbreaking 75-70 loss, the Hawks now 10-11 overall and 5-5 in the CAA nevertheless put up a strong effort at both ends of the court.
Monmouth and Northeastern traded impressive runs throughout the game, with the Hawks opening up the match with an 8-0 lead, only to be responded to with a 16-4 run by the Huskies. Nonetheless, the Hawks went on their own run 14-6 to start the second quarter. The Huskies only held a four-point advantage entering halftime.
The game also featured many notable performances from the Hawks in the tough and hard-fought loss. Louro celebrated her 100th career three-pointer in the fourth quarter, propelling Monmouth to a lead.
Donovan also had an astounding afternoon- the career-high 24-point performance was her second game scoring over 20, and her sixth in double figures. Going 8-13 from the field, Donovan also put up three assists and went 7-10 from the line.
Boggess shared her appreciation for her team’s efforts, “We preach toughness and discipline in our culture and I saw a ton of that tonight… We have to carry these lessons forward and grow from them and I’m confident we will.”
The Hawks’ next matchup is back at home on Friday, Feb. 3, taking on CAA opponent Hofstra at 7 p.m.
