Rodriguez’s 27-Point Showcase Can’t Save Hawks from Defeat Against Tribe

FINAL SCORE

William & Mary (5-10, 2-2 CAA) – 83
Monmouth (7-8, 2-2 CAA) – 74
 
WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – In spite of an exceptional outing from senior guard Damaris Rodriguez, the Monmouth University Women’s Basketball squad was unable to prevail in a closely fought 83-74 contest against William & Mary on Sunday at the OceanFirst Bank Center.
 
Rodriguez achieved a season-best performance, equaling her season high with 27 points on an impressive 12-for-16 shooting, including three successful attempts from beyond the arc. She also equaled her season high with seven assists, leading the Monmouth offense. Senior forward Taisha Exanor maintained her strong performance this season with her fifth double-double, contributing 14 points and 11 rebounds, along with a block and a steal.
 
Rodriguez sank a buzzer-beater three-pointer to end the first quarter, keeping the Hawks within five points. They were behind 17-12 after the initial quarter but made a comeback in the second, boosted by a 7-0 run mid-quarter to narrow the margin to 35-34 at the break.
 
The Hawks briefly seized the lead in the third quarter following Rodriguez’s three-pointer during a seven-point streak, however, the Tribe responded with their own offensive charge. The Tribe showcased a well-rounded attack, with four players scoring in double digits, highlighted by career bests from Bella Nascimento (27 points) and Cassidy Geddes (26 points).
 
Despite trailing for the majority of the second half, Monmouth remained assertive, exemplified by a 5-0 run to begin the fourth quarter that propelled the Hawks ahead by one at 8:49. The Hawks’ defense also made a significant contribution, achieving seven blocks, including two each from Divine Dibula and Ella Farrelly. Nevertheless, William & Mary cemented the victory late with timely three-pointers and solid free-throw shooting.
 
NOTES & QUOTES
“We were able to generate some offensive momentum in the second half, but our defensive gaps really cost us. We pride ourselves on defense, and we did not defend as we were required to. We will take lessons from this and refocus for our upcoming road trip next week.” – Head Coach Cait Wetmore
 
– Monmouth drops to 2-2 in CAA matchups.
– Rodriguez recorded her second game with 27 points this season. The first occurred vs. Saint Peter’s on Nov. 26.
– Exanor leads the Hawks with five double-doubles this season.
– It marks the eighth occasion where three Hawks have finished with 10+ points. Monmouth is 4-4 in matches where they feature three double-digit scorers.
– Monmouth achieved seven blocks – the highest in a CAA match for them this season.
– The Hawks secured only 32 rebounds – their lowest in a game since Nov. 15 against UMass.
– The Hawks permitted four players to score in double digits in a single game for the first time this season.

– William & Mary now holds a slight edge in the historical series, 4-3.
 
NUMBERS CRUNCH
– The contest included six lead changes and three ties.

– William & Mary led for 36:57 compared to Monmouth’s 1:59.

– Monmouth achieved 48.3% in field goal shooting while William & Mary recorded 47.7%.
– The Tribe claimed the rebounding edge, 33-32.
– The Tribe outscored MU, 17-11, via turnovers.
– Monmouth accumulated more points in the paint, 38-36.

– W&M registered more second-chance points, 15-8.

– W&M outperformed in fastbreak points, 23-11.
– The Tribe accumulated more points from their bench, 18-13.
– Monmouth fell behind in the turnover statistic, 20-12.
 
UP NEXT
The Hawks will embark on a road trip to the Carolinas, facing Charleston on Friday, Jan. 17. The game is scheduled to be aired live on FloSports at 7 p.m.