BOX SCORE WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. (Jan. 14, 2013) – The Saint Francis University women's basketball team knocked off the Monmouth Hawks, 63-49, in the MAC.  
 
The Red Flash (9-6, 4-0) posted a strong first half and cruised to their first win against the Hawks (5-10, 2-2) in West Long Branch since 2004. Nickia Gibbs (Greenbelt, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt) led SFU with 17 points on 6-for-9 shooting while Alli Williams (Altoona, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle) added 15 points and 10 rebounds for her 10th double-double of the season. Carly Thibault nearly shot the Hawks back into the game in the second half but SFU's lead never fell out of double-digits in the second half.  
 
Saint Francis started the second half strong and ran its lead out to as many as 21 in the first four minutes of the second half. Monmouth weathered the storm and battled back behind the excellent 3-point shooting of Thibault, who tallied 16 second-half points and hit four 3-pointers. However, Monmouth could not get the lead below 11, as the Flash sealed the win late at the free throw line. Gibbs posted nine second half points and several key jumpers and Williams posted eight second half points as the Flash cruised to the win.   
 
The game started slowly on both sides as the contest remained scoreless for the first three minutes. The Flash played dominate defense and allowed just four field goals in the first half. The starters for the Hawks were limited to just 2-for-16 shooting in the first half, as Monmouth stumbled to 16-percent shooting in the first half. Saint Francis got a solid effort from Gibbs, who led SFU in the first half with eight points while Williams added seven points and eight first frame rebounds. The strong showing earned the Flash a 29-13 advantage at the intermission.
 
SFU returns to action Saturday at DeGol Arena as the Red Flash welcome defending NEC Champion Sacred Heart for a nationally televised game schedule set to tip off at 11:30 a.m..
 
GAME NOTES
- The Red Flash dominated the boards in the first half outrebounding Monmouth 23-12 bu the two teams finished tied in rebounds at 35.
 
- Alli Williams (Altoona, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle) and Nickia Gibbs (Greenbelt, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt) outscored the entire Monmouth team in the first half 15-13.
 
- The win is the first for the Flash this season in which Williams was not the leading scorer for SFU. It is also the first win for the Flash in a game where Williams did not score 20 or more.
 
- The win for the Red Flash is their first in West Long Branch since Jan. 17, 2004.
 
- For the second consecutive game the teams tied in rebounds