Box Score

WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. -- The Fairleigh Dickinson women's basketball team was defeated by Garden State rival Monmouth, 61-53, in Northeast Conference action Monday night at the Multipurpose Activity Center. With the victory, the Hawks improve to 8-11 (5-3 NEC) on the season, while the Knights fall to 8-11 (3-5 NEC) overall.

Sophomore Erika Livermore (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth Area) recorded her 16th double-double of the season, scoring a team-high 13 points and collecting a game-high 11 rebounds, while swatting away a career-best five shots and recording two steals. Fellow classmate Amanda Andrades (Virginia Beach, Va./Princess Anne) added a season-high 10 points and tied her career highs in assists (6) and steals (4).

Sophomores Tiffany Grant (Odenton, Md./Arundel) and Stephanie Isaacs (Fair Haven, N.J./Rumson-Fair Haven) each scored nine points, a career best for Grant, while junior Desiree Crawford (Aurora, Ontario/Cardinal Carter Catholic) chipped in eight points and eight rebounds.

Early in the first half, a put-back layup by Isaacs put FDU up 7-6 before 10 unanswered points by the Hawks gave the home team a 16-7 advantage with 10:39 remaining in the first half.

The Knights responded with a 10-2 spurt as Livermore's 19-foot jumper cut the deficit to 18-17, but Monmouth would then close the half on an 8-1 run to go into halftime with a 26-18 lead.

FDU shot only 19.4 percent (6-of-31) over the first 20 minutes, while the Hawks connected on 9-of-26 shots (34.6 percent), including 3-of-7 from three-point range.

Four straight points by Monmouth to start the second half established its largest lead of the game at 30-18 before the Knights scored eight in a row to cut the deficit to 30-26, forcing a 30 second timeout by the Hawks with 17:10 to go in the contest.

Monmouth regrouped and eventually extended the lead back out to nine, 41-32, before a 13-3 run, capped by an Isaacs' three from the left wing, gave FDU a 45-44 lead with 6:26 remaining in the game.

The Hawks scored the next four points and led 48-45 at the 5:32 mark. Neither side scored over the next 2:42, as the Knights committed two turnovers, missed one shot and the front end of a one-and one during the stretch.

Monmouth then extended its lead to six and never looked back, ending the game on a 17-8 run to earn the 61-53 victory.

FDU shot very well in the second half (44.8 percent) to finish the game shooting 31.7 percent (19-of-60). The Hawks also shot well over the final 20 minutes (46.2 percent) and ended the contest at 40.4 percent (21-of-52). The Knights made 2-of-8 from behind the arc, while Monmouth connected on 4-of-10.

At the free throw line, FDU sank 13-of-17, and the Hawks converted 15-of-21, including 7-of-8 by Gabby Singer over the final 56 seconds. Both sides grabbed 39 rebounds and combined for 16 blocks, with the Knights recording a season-high nine. FDU also forced 18 turnovers, with 12 steals, while giving the ball up 16 times.

“We played much better tonight,” Head Coach Peter Cinella said. “Our defense had some good moments, and we shot the ball very well in the second half. We made a lot more hustle plays, but turnovers at the end of each half really hurt us.”

Singer led three Hawks in double-figures with 15 points, five rebounds, four assists and four steals. Chevannah Paalvast added 14 points, five rebounds and four blocks, while Sara English came off the bench and chipped in 12 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks.

The Knights will return to conference action on Saturday, Feb. 2 when they host Central Connecticut State in the first of three consecutive home games. Tipoff at Stratis Arena is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.