Junior Erin Kerner (Erie, Pa.) scored 15 points on 13-14 free throw shooting to lead Quinnipiac to a hard-fought 66-62 road victory over Northeast Conference opponent Monmouth Saturday in West Long Branch, N.J. The Bobcats improve to 12-2 and 4-0 in conference, while the Hawks fall to 2-12 and 0-4 in NEC play.

Junior Mandy Pennewell (West Chester, Pa.) hit back to back three-pointers to give the Bobcats a 6-2 lead to open the game. A lay up by senior Nicole Duperron (Fort St. John, B.C.) gave Quinnipiac their largest lead of the game, 12-5, at the 15:04 mark.

The Bobcats opened up a 16-8 lead after a free throw line jumper by Kerner with 12:13 left to play in the half. Monmouth then closed the deficit to one point, 18-17, after a lay up by freshman Elizabeth Kudirka with 8:14 remaining.

A free throw by Monmouth’s Marisa Jimenez tied the game at 22-22 with 3:56 left to play in the first half. The Hawks took a 24-22 lead, their first since the opening minute, on their next possession.

The Bobcats responded with an 8-1 run, capped by a baseline jumper by junior Kathleen Neyens (Jaffrey, N.H.) with 15 seconds left in the half, and they went into the locker room with a 30-25 lead. Kerner led all scorers with eight points at halftime, while Duperron collected eight first-half rebounds. Monmouth was led by junior LaKia Barber with seven points.

Monmouth came out strong in the second half and cut the Bobcat lead to a single point, 35-34, after a Nyaimah Ware three-pointer with 16:26 left to play. Quinnipiac responded, and pulled out to a 43-36 lead after senior Monique Lee (Lynn, Mass.) found Pennewell on a back-door cut for a lay up with 13:20 left in the second half.

The Bobcats continued to pull away, and gained a 53-40 advantage after a lay up by Brianna Rooney (Guilford, Conn.). But Monmouth put together a run, coming within eight points, 57-49, and forced Quinnipiac to call timeout with 5:12 remaining in the second half.

The timeout didn’t stop the Monmouth run, and the Hawks came within two points, 57-55, with 3:19 to play after a steal and lay up by sophomore Brooke McElroy. At the 2:41 mark, Monmouth’s Veronica Randolph made two free throws to tie the game, 57-57. McElroy’s three-point play on the following possession gave Monmouth their first lead of the second half, 60-57.

Lee’s free throw with 1:15 remaining tied the game at 60. After a Monmouth basket, Pennewell scored on a back-door lay up to tie the game at 62.

After a Quinnipiac stop, Rooney was fouled in the backcourt and made both free throws to give the Bobcats a 64-62 lead with 10.9 seconds left. Monmouth dribbled the ball onto their side of the court and called timeout with 6.7 seconds to play.

The Hawks threw the ball out of bounds on the ensuing inbounds pass, giving the ball to the Bobcats. Kerner was fouled with 2.6 seconds left and made both free throws, securing the 66-62 victory for Quinnipiac.