MONMOUTH HAWKS WOMEN'S BASKETBALL VISITS NORTHEASTERN FRIDAY--GAM

Monmouth Hawks WBB Preview

2023-24 Monmouth Women's Basketball Game Twenty-One Preview

By: MEGAN O'BRIEN, Monmouth University Assistant Director of Athletic Communications

Monmouth Hawks (13-7, 6-3 CAA) at Northeastern (8-11, 4-5 CAA)
Friday, Feb. 9, 2024 - 12:00 p.m.
Cabot Center - Boston, Mass.

Watch
NESN/FloSports
Complete Notes Attached

OPENING TIP
• It's a split away and home weekend for the Hawks that starts with a Friday afternoon game in Boston against Northeastern.
• MU will carry a seven-game road win streak into Friday's action. It's the second longest road win streak in program history and tied for fifth in the country.
• The Hawks and Huskies are meeting for the only time this season and the fourth time overall. The two teams split their regular season meetings with the Hawks picking up a second win in the CAA Semifinals.
• The trip to Boston marks the return of two Hawks to their home state. Ariana Vanderhoop hails from Boston while Kellyn Preira is from Peabody, Mass.
• Kaci Donovan paced the Hawks with 18 points on Sunday against Stony Brook, her 13th game in double figures this season.
• Belle Kranbuhl had three blocks against Stony Brook. It was the 14th time in 20 games that she has recorded multiple blocks in a game.
• The Hawks shot 41.2% from the field against Stony Brook on Sunday. It was the third straight game and 11th time this season the Hawks have shot 40% or better in a contest.
• MU went 15-for-20 from the foul line on Sunday. The Hawks moved to 8-3 on the year when the Hawks connect on 10 or more free throws in a game.
• Monmouth has out rebounded 16 of 20 opponents this season. The Hawks enter play this week leading the CAA with a rebounding margin of +8.8.
NUMBERS FROM THE ROAD
The win over William & Mary on Jan. 28 stretched the Hawks' current win streak to seven straight games. Monmouth entered play this week tied for the fifth longest road win streak in Division I women's basketball. The Hawks need one more road win to tie the 2002-03 team for the longest road win streak in program history.

STATS FROM THE STREAK
During the current road streak, the Hawks are averaging 68 points per game while holding opponents to 54.7 points per game. Monmouth holds a +13.1 edge in the rebounding battle. Ariana Vanderhoop (11.6), Kaci Donovan (11.0) and Sandrine Clesca (10.0) lead the offensive efforts while Belle Kranbuhl (7.7 rebounds per game) has been a force on the defensive end.

IT'S GOOD TO BE HOME
Friday's game brings two of the Hawks pretty close to home. Guard Ariana Vanderhoop hails from Boston and attended Cathedral High School which is less than two miles from the Cabot Center. Guard Kellyn Preira is from Peabody which is a little over 20 miles from the Cabot Center and attended St. Mary's.

APPROACHING THE CENTURY MARK
Belle Kranbuhl and Jania Hall have proven themselves to a consistent part of the Hawks' lineup during their careers. Kranbuhl appeared in her 100th career game when the Hawks faced Stony Brook on Sunday while Hall will hit that mark with her next appearance for Monmouth. The school record for career games played at Monmouth is 130 and was set by Lucy Thomas last year.

WE'LL TAKE THE CHARITY
Monmouth went 15-for-20 from the foul line on Sunday against Stony Brook. Those efforts were led by Kaci Dononvan (5-for-7) and Jania Hall (5-for-6). It was the 11th time this season that Monmouth has made 10 or more free throws in a game. The Hawks are 8-3 when they make 10 or more free throws in a game. The Hawks made a season-best 21 free throws in the win over Georgian Court. .

FABULOUS AT FORTY
Monmouth finished Sunday's game versus Stony Brook shooting 41.2% from the field. It was the third straight game and 11th time the Hawks have shot 40% or better from the field and Monmouth is 9-2 in those contests. The Hawks shot a season-best 50% from the field in the win over St. John's and later matched that mark in the road win at Drexel.

SEEING DOUBLE
Kaci Donovan led the Hawks with 18 points against Stony Brook on Sunday. It was the eighth time the senior has scored 15 or more points in a game and her team-leading 13th game in double figures this season.

CONTINUED CLIMB
After winning nine CAA games during their first regular season in the league, the Hawks are looking to improve on that number. Monmouth picked up its sixth CAA win of the season on Friday night against Towson and still has nine games remaining in the regular season.

BE BIG IN THE LANE
The Hawks had 12 blocks in two games over the weekend. Belle Kranbuhl led the Hawks with eight rejections in the two contests combined.

So far this season, the Hawks have recorded at least five blocks in 14 of 20 games. The Hawks are currently tied for 9th nationally in blocks per game (5.7). Monmouth has posted at least eight blocks in a game six times this season. Belle Kranbuhl leads the Hawks with 50 blocks and ranks 16th nationally in blocks per game (2.50). Eleven different Hawks have recorded at least one block this season.

LOOKING FOR 800
Kaci Donovan enters play Friday with 795 career points as a Hawk. She needs five more points to become the 26th player in program history to score at least 800 points as a Hawk.

SCOUTING THE HUSKIES
Northeastern has lost two of its last three following a 72-49 set back to North Carolina A&T on Sunday. Derin Erdogan leads the Huskies as she is averaging 15.5 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. Deja Bristol is adding 11.1 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.

UP NEXT
Monmouth is back in the OceanFirst Bank Center on Sunday, Feb. 11 to host Delaware at 2 p.m.