FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 20, 2001

MONMOUTH CLOSES THE DOOR ON THE DUTCHWOMEN

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. — Monmouth University’s starters accounted for 63 of its 67 points as the Hawks posted a 67-62 victory over Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y.

JEWONDA BRIGHT paced the Hawks with her first double-double of the season. Bright tallied a team-high 18 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. LATOYA THOMPSON added 15 points and five rebounds. Two-time NEC Defensive Player of the Year MICHELLE CAPPADONA had another brilliant performance with 14 points, five assists and five steals. RASHAWNAH FRENCH contributed 10 points, eight rebounds and four assists.

Hofstra was led by Kimberly Coke with 19 points. Megan Scott registered 14 points and six rebounds. Lauren Hall-Gregory dished out a game-high 10 assists.

The Flying Dutchwomen took an early 17-10 lead as Coke scored nine points on four field goals and one foul shot in the first 8:42. The Hawks responded with a 23-6 run over the next nine minutes to take their biggest lead of the night, 33-23 with 2:11 left in the first half. Hofstra made a late charge to close the gap to 34-31 at the intermission.

In the first two minutes of the second half, Monmouth stretched the lead to seven points, 40-33. Hofstra clawed its way back into the contest, trading 2-point buckets for 3-point field goals and one made free-throw for 2-point buckets. With 7:47 remaining in the game, HU reclaimed the lead 54-53 with almost invisible 21-13 run. The Flying Dutchwomen held the lead for the last time with 5:03 left in the contest, 60-59. With 3:47 left, Cappadona tied the score with a free throw, and 30 seconds later stole the ball from Hofstra and drove for a layup to give MU a 62-60 cusshion. Coke hit a pair of free throws at the 2:08 mark to tie the score at 62-62. The Hawks closed out the scoring with two free throws by Jaime Janda, one free throw by Erin Winston and a layup by Bright.

The Hawks were able to win despite shooting just 56.2 percent from the foul line (18-of-32). Monmouth’s defense stymied the Flying Dutchwomen and allowed them to shoot just 33.8 percent from the field (23-of-68).