FanPost

FDU 78 Monmouth 61 : Game breakdown

Teaneck, NJ - In a non conference matchup Monmouth visited FDU on Wednesday. Visiting Hawks of the MAAC are struggling. They entered FDU’s Rothman center on a two game losing streak. FDU, looking to do some damage in the Northeast Conference this season, entered the game winners in two of their last three outings.

A period by period rundown:


1st Period: FDU scored on its first five possessions to open an early 10-2 lead. Entering the contest, Monmouth had attempted 31% of their field goals beyond the arc. With the Knights opening in a zone Monmouth fired from deep. In the early going the Hawk attack proved to be better inside the arc with 6-2 forward Alexa Middleton causing some matchup problems, especially on the boards. FDU is pushing the pace early and Monmouth is quite content to run. In a quarter not overly featured for defensive exploits FDU led 28-20. Knights gave up a lot of generous looks in close. Monmouth needed better transition defense. In fact the last sequence saw the Knights go end to end in five seconds with Natalie Zamora burying a trey at the buzzer.


2nd Period: Stats confirmed the ‘eye’ test. Monmouth offensive efficiency was 95 while FDU was an exceptional 122. Monmouth falls behind by 14 at the six minute mark. FDU turned it up defensively on the Monmouth guards- forcing turnovers resulting bin run off baskets. While coach Pete Cinella has the Knights showing some 1-2-2 full court pressure as the Hawks inbounded following a dead ball, the most effective pressure has been what was previously alluded to. Monmouth did not knock a three down this period. At the half FDU enjoyed a commanding 49-31 lead. Adjustment for coach Jenny Palmateer’s Hawks? Simple. Defense!

Monmouth efficiency the first half sas 78 (a 38% TO rate did not help). FDU efficiency, still outstanding at 114.


3rd Period: Sometimes is i just NOT your night? Monmouth’s first possession was extended by three offensive rebounds only to end in a walk. Their sixteenth turnover of the night. Monmouth finding some mid range success. They have wisely abandoned the three ball.The opening half saw them shoot 11% (1 of 9) from deep. FDU still created defensive problems. The inside combination of Amina Markovic and Lauren Francillon provide the Knights with scoring in the paint. Outside, guards Natalie Zamora and Madelyn Comly are effective compliments to the inside game. After three periods, FDU 65 Monmouth 47.


4th Period: Efficiency after three saw Monmouth at 80 and FDU 107. Obviously the third period was better for the Hawks on both ends of the floor. Not good enough though, to make a run at FDU’s double digit cushion. Defensively the Knights have done the job on Kayla Shaw. The Monmouth Sophomore came in leading the team with 16 points per outing. Midway through the fourth Shaw was stuck on seven as the Knights rarely gave her a decent look all night. No sooner is this written when Shaw buries a trey from the right side. With 2:19 left and FDU up twenty, too little and much too late. The latter part of the period, now or never, Monmouth did revert to shooting the threes. Did not help as they hit just two during that final period.

Final: FDU 78 Monmouth 61


A few numbers….

Offensive efficiency: FDU 100, Monmouth 79

Monmouth was forced into a 33% TO rate. They did win the offensive rebound battle with a 48-30 OREB advantage.

Leading scorers: FDU Natalie Zamora 15 points

Monmouth: Rhai Spooner-Knight 18 points.


FDU improved to 6-2 while Monmouth dropped to 2-7.


"We shot well and did a good job getting the ball inside. We have inside players and a lot of three point shooters. We forced turnovers (25) and came up with 11 steals. A lot of those turnovers wound up as baskets for us….Our big players (Francillon and Markovic) can play inside./out and drive...I think the first half may have been Natalie’s (Zamora) best of the year. She’s playing with so much confidence…(Elise) Graham and (Peniel) M’Bikata gave us energy off the bench. We need to shore up our defensive rebounding but overall we are playing well." -FDU coach Pete Cinella