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J- ASBURY PARK PRESS FRIDAY, FEB. 19, 2010'. lTf page www.app.com COLLEGE SPORTS Edelson Monmouth defense muzzles Terriers ri Hawks coast to fifth straight victory 11-4) and Sacred Heart (18-8, 11-4). Monmouth isits LIU Saturday. MONMOUTH (1H1, 11 15, Womack 6-10 2-2 14, Rooney 2-8 4-7 10, Singer 2-4 6, Ctnady 2-4 1-1 5.

Thlbeult 1- 4 0-0 6, Allen 2-6 0-0 4, Kudlrka 0-4 MO, Gadziala 2-3 0-0 4, Gomez 2-4 0-2 4, Scha-nuel 0-2 0-1 0. Totals: 26-56 8-14 66. IT. FIANCIJ, H.Y. (2-24, 1-14) JO: Snauwert 2- 9 1-2 7, Au.

Lau 0-8 0-0 0, Gantt 6-17 0-0 12, Bingham 1-3 1-2 3, Dunaon 2-6 0-2 4, J. Williams 2-9 0-0 4, Am. Lau 0-3 00 0, K. Williams 0-1 00 0, Galand'va 0-0 0-0 0. Totala: 13-55 2-630.

Haimme: Monmouth, 28-12. 3-polnt goals: Monmouth 7-16 (Womack 2-2, Rooney 2-4, Singer 24, Canady 0-2, TNoaJt 1-3). SFNY 2-13 (Snauwert 2-6, Au. Lau 0-2, J. Williams 0-3, Am.

Lau 0-2). Rebounds: Monmouth 52 (Martin 7). SFNY 26 (A. Lau 10). Assists: Monmouth 17 (Canady 6).

SFNY 4 (Dunson 2). Attendance: 132. blanking St. Francis freshman Autumn Lau. "We knew the key to beating them was shutting Autumn down," Gaitley said.

Monmouth pushed its lead to 22-6 after a 3-point play by Alexis Canady en route to a 28-12 halftime advantage. The Hawks led by more than 30 points for the game's final 7:31. With the victory, Monmouth solidified its hold on fourth place in the NEC and closed in on second-place Long Island U. (17-9, est since they held Howard to 12 last season. Monmouth struck for the first nine points of the game over the first six minutes and St.

Francis (2-24, 1-14) never recovered. "Once we start off strong we've just got to keep it that way," Martin said. "We have to let the other team know that we mean business." Monmouth coach Stephanie Gaitley said freshman Erin Rooney was awarded the team gold bar (player of the game) for shooting (5-for-24) and coasted to their fifth consecutive victory, 65-30, at the Pope Center. "We knew we couldn't take them lightly," said Monmouth freshman center Abby Martin, who led three Hawks in double figures with 15 points. "We couldn't allow them to get hot because they showed they're capable of beating anybody in the conference." The points allowed by the Hawks (15-11, 10-5) in the first half were the few FROM PAGE Cl With a roster that Includes ten newcomers, Including eight freshman and two transfers, the'" Hawks already have 15 wins after Thursday night's 35-point victory, their fifth straight, as they make an rise in the Northeast Con' ference standings now has them just a game out of second place.

There's a chance they could match, or even ceed the 18 wins from Gaitley's first season with the Hawks, which equaled their highest win total hr j-21 years. "She's like a mother and coach to all of said freshman Alysha Wo- mack, a leading contender for NEC Rookie of Year. "She helps us with all aspects of our from family issues to things on the court. And that builds trust, and we trust what coach Gaitley tells us." In the cozy confines of -this Brooklyn Heights gym, the Hawks braced for what will be a difficult stretch run with their, most dominating perform- ance of the season. There have been a few trying moments along the way, but games like the ones, i the Hawks have over the past month it all worth it.

"It's not just freshman ri. we have 10 new kids who 1 came from completely dif- -i. ferent philosophies," said coach Gaitley. You have a junior college kid (Chanel Gomez), you have a Aiy sha who played on No. 1 team in the nation; and Carly (Thibault) Is; the daughter of a coach, and they've all', been taught a different v-; way.

ro' "I give all the credit to -the kids. They bought in. I think the biggest things was they started to buy-';" into how important the little things were. I told them before the season started we had at least 20' games that we referred to jj Mr 'T jrs it Af rx dsf SMfiRr I-. a I -5 0lU IP'; 1 -t Altaic.

rJfoft. IK 1 STAFF PHOTO: TANYA BREEN Denise Wescott, the new Monmouth women's lacrosse coach, talks with her players before practice earlier this week. The team opens its season Sunday at Fairfield. Wescott looks to build a champion Monmouth women's lacrosse team set to open on Sunday By TONY GRAHAM STAFF WRITER NEW YORK The Monmouth University women's basketball team was well aware that usually strug- WOMEN'S BASKETBALL Monmouth 65 St Francis (NY) 30 gling St. Francis (N.Y.) had upset defending Northeast Conference champion Sacred Heart last Saturday.

With that in mind, the Hawks limited the Terriers to 12 first-half points Thursday on 20-percent Monmouth FROM PAGE CI With the victory Monmouth moved into a three-way tie for fifth place in the NEC with St. Francis, Pa. and Fairleigh Dickinson. The top eight teams qualify for the playoffs. "I made the foul shots; and we usually have a person (a defender) back," Campbell said.

"When I made the free throws I got happy. I was like, 'Yes, we "Then I realized there were four seconds left. He (Cadell) had a wide open layup. I don't know how he missed that layup. "And then Bennett missed the tip in.

I couldn't explain it." "They should have never been able to get a drive like that, I have to watch the tape," Calloway said. "Will was originally on Cadell but if they were screening we were supposed to switch. There was no way they should, have got behind us." Travis Taylor led Monmouth with 16 points, including six when Monmouth opened the game with 10 consecutive points. But Taylor soon got into foul trouble. Justin Sofman ended a seven-game double-figure drought with 14 points and Campbell had 10.

Monmouth led by nine points with 14:27 left and seven with 5:24 remaining. But St. Francis tied the score, 49-49, on a 3-pointer by Cadell with 1:21 left. With 25 seconds showing Monmouth took possession when St. Francis' Justin Newton threw the ball out of bounds.

Calloway said Monmouth set up the final play for Taylor or Campbell who was fouled as he drove to the basket. Taylor's aggressiveness understandably waned when he incurred his third foul on a charging call with 6:59 left in the first half. "After you pick up the third foul, especially in the first half of the game, you've got to be a little tentative," Taylor said. "You can't be so aggressive. You've got to be smarter." "It's a big win," Taylor said.

"Every win now is important." MONMOUTH (12-15): Taylor 7-12 2-3 16, Walte 0-1 2-2 2, Coleman 3-8 04 7, Campbell 3-13 2-2 10, Hett 0-1 04 0, Gaitley 1-3 04 2, Barbour 0-2 04 0. Sofman 5-9 04 14, DelTuto 0-2 04 0. Totals 19-51 6-7 51. ST. FMNCIS, NY (10-16): Ayeni 0-3 04 0.

Wrlce 2-3 04 4, Cadell 5-16 04 14, Newton 1-2 1-2 3, Bennett 6-9 2-5 15, Perunlcie 2-9 04 6, Johnson 34 1-4 7. Totals 19-48 4-1 149. Halftime Monmouth 26-23. 3-Point Goals Monmouth 7-18 (Sol-man 4-6, Campbell 24, Coleman 1-4), St. Franca, NY 7-22 (Cadell 4-10, Pe-runiclc 2-9, Bennett 1-1, Ayenl 0-2).

Fouled Out None. Rebounds Monmouth 30 (Gaitley 9). St Francis, NY 34 (Bennett 12). Assists Monmouth 14 (Campbell. Coleman, Hett 3), St Francis.

NY 10 (Bennett 4). Total Fouls Monmouth 14, St. Francis, NY 13. A 683. At a Glance Hetd coach: Denise Wescott (20 years, 158-157.

First year at Monmouth) Last year; 7-11, 5-3 Northeast Conference) Outlook: Picked second in the NEC coaches poll behind two-time defending champion Sacred Heart, Hawks will look to a trio of seniors to lead them to their 13th consecutive NEC Tournament. Senior midfielder and two-time All-NEC first-team selection Megan Brennan has paced the attack the last two years and has 112 career goals. Senior midfielders Ali Pollock and Perry DeWitt were second-team selections in 2009. Overall the Hawks return 10 of 12 starters. Wescott compiled a 22-10 NEC league record at Mount St.

Mary's before coming to Monmouth. The Hawks open the 2010 season noon Sunday at Fairfield, the MAAC preseason favorite. Tony Graham "It was a part-time job, that was the only reason I left," Wescott said. "I said, 'I need benefits or I've got to Of course the next coach got benefits and everything. It happens." At Monmouth, Wescott succeeded Kelly Van Zile, who stepped down to raise her newborn daughter.

Van Zile led Monmouth to a pair of Northeast Conference Tournament titles and accompanying NCAA Tournament berths in 2006-2007. In 2007, a goal by current Monmouth assistant Ashley Waldman gave Monmouth the NEC championship victory over the top-seeded Mount. "I told Ash I wasn't going to hire her because of that," said Wescott. "I was just being funny." Wescott said she came to West Long Branch because she felt, "Monmouth does a great of really supporting their teams financially and philosophically. "I think the opportunities are just a little bit stronger as far as people that work in the offices and your support staff." With a senior-laden team returning, Wescott is optimistic about the season.

"I think with a lot of the seniors coming back we're trying to put ourselves in a position to win the championship," she said. By TONY GRAHAM i(f. STAFF WRITER Firsfyear Monmouth University women's lacrosse coach Denise Wescott hopes i to model the Hawks after another of the school's, athletic programs. That would be men's soccer, which became a Top 10 program nationally in 2009. "We play Rutgers this season and we're picking up some teams in the Top 20," Wescott "My goal, over the next few years, is to try and close that gap between us and the teams in the Top 25 so we can be compatible.

Just like men's soccer did." Wescott actually began her athletic career playing basketball, not lacrosse. "I dreamed young of being an Olympic basketball player," she said. A Moorestown High School graduate, she played basketball as well goalie for the school's hockey and lacrosse teams. That led to a standout lacrosse career in goal and a 50-11-1 record for the University of Maryland. Before arriving in West Long Branch after four years at NEC rival Mount St.

Mary's, Wescott's coaching stops included two years at Rutgers (1991-93). as 50-50 talent-wise. Now how do we become do we get that one percent edge? You get with things like picking -r everybody up when they take a charge and running to timeouts. It's as much intangibles, as knowing who's supposed to set the" -screen." Here's a little snapshot that tells you plenty about i this team. In the second half against the Terriers," Alexis Canady, a reliable' 3-point shooter and the only holdover from ias season's freshman class, passed up a wide open look from beyond the arc, -and flipped the ball to i freshman Gabby Singer? whose confidence had'f been sagging.

Singer nailed it. "We pick each othec up," said Canady. struggling with heL shot, and I wanted to give her an open three. A lot of it is the love we have each other." Maybe that's why any; thing's possible for this team, both in the coming weeks and the years to'rr. come, as Gaitley's mes sage filters down through i impressionable minds.

a i "In all my years dfTv coaching, this team has" the best chemistry. And! the girls are like sponges just soaking everything a up," Gaitley noted. "This was such an im- i -portant recruiting class for us. And not just talent; but also chemistry. First and foremost, we needed great kids.

Now that I've gotten older, I want kids.I enjoy being around. Be-' cause they're the kids I'm going to get the maximum amount out of." Expectations have al1 ready been met and ex ceeded, and now Gaitley' seems content to see', where this run takes, them. The Hawks are playing with money, and that might: i make them as dangerous as anyone in the NEC. Stephen Edelson is an AsburyPark Press staff 1 writer. Reach him at sedelsonapp.com.

Also, 1 check out his blog. Fan-tastic Journey, at i-! www.app.comsports. BASKETBALL ROUNDUP MOUNT ST. MARYS (MD.) 85, CENTRAL CONNECTICUT STATE 58: Jeremy Goode scored 26 points and Mount St. Mary's (Md.) shot 64.3 percent from the 3-point line to defeat Central Connecticut State.

Goode hit two of his three 3-point attempts to help the Mountaineers (12-14, 9-6 Northeast Conference) go 9-for-14 from beyond the arc. In women's games: No. 7 OHIO STATE 83, WISCONSIN 78: Samantha Prahalis scored 25 points and Jantel Lavender had 23 points and 12 rebounds to lead No. 7 Ohio State in a victory over Wisconsin. Prahalis scored four points during a 7-0 run over the final 1:18 of the first half to give Ohio State a 37-32 lead.

The Badgers pulled within two points twice in the final minute of the second half, but the Buckeyes made 7 of 8 free throws to hold on for the victory. No. 23 LSU 55, No. 25 VANDERBILT 39: Katherine Graham scored 15 points and grabbed nine rebounds, helping No. 23 LSU win its third straight with a victory over No.

25 Vanderbilt. Allison Hightower scored 13, while LaSondra Barrett and Courtney Jones each scored 11 for the Lady Tigers (18-7, 7-6 Southeastern Conference), who never trailed. No. 16 KENTUCKY 77, FLORIDA 51: Keyla Snowden scored 21 points, Lydia Watkins had a career-high 19 and No. 16 Kentucky rallied from six points down at halftime to defeat Florida.

Snowden shot 5-for-5 on 3-pointers and Watkins got all of her scoring in the second half to help the Wildcats (22-4, 10-3 Southeastern Conference) get their 17th straight home victory. No. 10 FLORIDA STATE 78, VIRGINIA TECH 68: Jacinta Monroe had a season-high 20 points and 11 rebounds Thursday night to lead lOth-ranked Florida State. It was the 6-foot-5 Monroe's third double-double in five games as the Seminoles (23-4, 9-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) stayed within a game of league-leading Duke. Syracuse holds off Georgetown Andy Rautins scored a season-high 26 points, and No.

5 Syracuse blew most of a 23-point lead before escaping with an exhausting 75-71 victory over No. 10 Georgetown on Thursday night. The Orange (25-2, 12-2 Big East) never trailed in improving to 7-0 on the road and 6-0 against ranked teams. Coming off a home loss to Louisville, Syracuse built an 11-point lead in the opening 4 minutes and led 60-37 with 12:37 left. That's when the Hoyas (18-7, 8-6) finally found their shooting touch and the Orange went cold.

The comeback started with a 10-0 run. After Rautins connected from beyond the arc, two more Georgetown baskets made it 63-51 with VA minutes left. Georgetown closed to 71-70 with 1:10 remaining and had a chance to take the lead, but a shot by Jason Clark bounced off the rim. Kris Joseph then scored on a drive for Syracuse with 8.4 seconds left. No.

17 VANDERBILT 82, MISSISSIPPI 78: A.J. Ogilvy scored 27 points and made all eight free throws attempts in the final 4 minutes to lead No. 17 Vanderbilt to a victory over Mississippi. The Commodores (20-5, 9-2 Southeastern Conference) did it their way, grinding down the Rebels (17-8, 5-6) late with a relentless inside game that led to 34 free throw attempts three above their average in league play. Vanderbilt hit 19 of 22 free throws over the final 6:07 for its third straight win and 14th in 16 games.

ROBERT MORRIS 64, SACRED HEART 39: Rob Robinson scored 18 points on 8 of 8 shooting and Robert Morris defeated Sacred Heart. The Colonials (19-9, 14-1 Northeast Conference) scored 20 points off 16 turnovers and held the Pioneers to 29.5 percent shooting (13 of 44). Sacred Heart (13-13, 5-9) was just 5 of 21 (23.8 percent) in the first half and finished 11.8 percent from 3-point range (2 of 17)..