Jan. 24, 2008

Box Score

WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ - Monmouth exploded for 46 first-half points, en route to an 79-62 women's basketball win over visiting New Jersey Institute of Technology Thursday night at Boylan Gym.

The Hawks, who connected on six of their twleve three-point tries, got a team-high 18 points from junior forward Jennifer Bender. Senior guard Nyaimah Ware recorded 14 points as she shot a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line. Guard Veronica Randolph, who came off the bench to shoot three-for-five on three-pointers combined for 11 points. Marbely Montas finished with 10 points shooting 5-for-9 from the field.

NJIT got game-high 19 points from Jill Dickinson, while freshman Jessica Gerald finished with 12 points and six rebounds. Gerald scored 10 of her points in the second half, while Dickinson collected 12 of her points in the first half. Rookie Ivana Seric added 10 points and five rebounds in 28 minutes of action before falling in foul trouble.

Maya Al-Shingieti, playing 31 minutes in a reserve role, grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds to lead NJIT. Bender had nine rebounds to pace the Hawks on the boards.

In addition to Monmouth connecting on 50 percent of its three-point shots (6-12) they also shot 63 percent from the free throw line (15-24). Led by Dickinson's 19 points, the Highlanders outscored their opponent 17-7 on second chance points.

Randolph, who did not enter the game until midway through the first half, provided a spark for the Hawks. The senior guard, hit three three-pointers, the last coming with 3:39 left in the first half that delivered a 46-27 halftime lead for Monmouth.

The Highlanders came out scoring the first five points of the second half as Monmouth's head coach took a 30 second time out to collect her team.

Monmouth increased the lead to 19, 53-34, at the 16:00 minute mark as Marisa Jimenez connected with a jumper from the left wing.

The Highlanders cut the lead down to 11 on four different occasions, the last coming at the 7:21 mark, with Gerald at the line. She hit one-of-two, but the Highlanders did not get any closer.

NJIT will return to action on Saturday at 3pm when they face Independent Chicago State for the first time this season. This will mark the final appearance this season for the Highlanders in the state-of-the-art Prudential Center in downtown Newark.