WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ–Transfer Ava Locklear recorded her third double-double of the season with 24 points and 14 rebounds but it wasn't enough as the Highlanders fell at Monmouth in women's basketball non-conference action Wednesday evening inside the OceanFirst Bank Center.
The 24 points for Locklear is a new career-best, surpassing her old mark of 22 points vs. Tiffin (12.22.24) and the 14 rebounds are two shy of her career best (16 vs. Lafayette; 11.30.25). The sophomore forward has registered back-to-back double-doubles and combined for her third of the season.
Despite four players scoring in double-figures – Locklear (24), Alejandra Zuniga (18), Allison Cannon (11) and Olivia Kulyk (10) the Highlanders moved to 7-3 on the season while Monmouth improved to 3-4 on the year.
Both teams traded points early in the first quarter with NJIT using an 8-0 run sparked by a three-point play by Alejandra Zuniga for an eight-point lead, 19-11. Monmouth closed out the first 10 minutes on a 7-1 spurt, pulling within two of the visitors, 20-18.
A 7-0 run by Monmouth to start the second stanza saw the Hawks take its first lead of the game, 29-26 at the 5:01 mark which sparked nine straight for the home team, taking an eight-point lead, 34-26, just under the four-minute mark. NJIT pulled within four within the last minute of play, 38-34, on a bucket by Ava Locklear but the Hawks took a six-point lead heading into the half, 40-34.
Locklear led all players with 12 points and five rebounds while Olivia Kulyk chipped in eight points and Alejandra Zuniga added six points.
Monmouth took its largest lead of the third quarter, nine, 45-36, at the 8:16 mark but the Highlanders rallied back and closed the Hawk gap to within two, 48-46, behind a 10-4 run at the 4:36 mark. The Hawks held a five-point advantage, 56-51, heading into the fourth quarter.
The Hawks pushed its lead to double-figures, 13, behind a 13-3 run for its largest lead of the game, 69-56, at the 5:35 mark and maintained their lead to the final buzzer.
Monmouth had four players in double-figures led by Divine Dibula with 21 points, nine rebounds.
Next Up
NJIT will return home for a pair of games ahead of the Christmas holiday break, welcoming Manhattan (Dec. 7 at 1pm) and Dartmouth (Dec. 11 at 6pm). The final non-conference game of the season will be on December 29 at Delaware State. Tip off is slated for 2pm.
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