Jan. 5, 2008

Box Score

Aston, Pa. --The Neumann College women's basketball team won the 2008 Monarch Classic tournament championship, hosted by King's College, by defeating Salisbury University, 78-72, Saturday afternoon in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.

Sophomore Brittany Whetts, who earned Tournament Most Valuable Player honors, scored a team-high 21 points and grabbed 14 rebounds for her third consecutive double-double of the season. Knights sophomore and team captain Caitlin Agnew, who was named to the 2008 Monarch Classic All-Tournament Team, chipped in with 12 points and 5 rebounds and Dominique Thompson added eleven second half points to lead the Knights to their first tournament title under Head Coach Frank Farnese.

 "This was a solid team effort," said Farnese "We showed a lot of growth and character coming from behind. It is a great way to start the New Year." With the win Neumann improves to 6-5 on the season and extends its season win streak to three.

Salisbury opened the game on a 14-2 run and held at least a 10-point lead over the Knights for the first 10-minutes of play. Neumann managed to close the gap after an injury to Stephanie Fanto sparked an 8-point run which helped the Knights pull within three of the Sea Gulls at the half.

Neumann opened the second half slow allowing Salisbury to take a 14-point lead four-minutes into the half. However, a 3-pointer by Nicole Feby at the 16-minute mark put Neumann on course to overtake the Sea Gulls.  The Knights surpassed the Seas Gulls with 5:50 left to play as Krista DiRomualdo landed her only three of the afternoon to give the Knights a 61-59 lead. Salisbury made several attempts to regain control and came within 2-points of the Knights lead with 16-seconds left on the clock. However, their hopes at the title were shattered as Feby stole the ball out of Salisbury's Chante McKinney's hands with 6-seconds remaining to secure a six-point win and the title for the Knights.

Neumann will return to conference play on January 12 when they will tip-off against the Pacers of Marywood University in Scranton, Pa. at 1:00 p.m.