Final Stats

WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. - Freshman forward Margot Hetzke hit the game-winning layup with 9.4 seconds to go as Siena Women's Basketball pulled out a key 54-52 victory over Monmouth at the Multipurpose Activity Center. Senior captain Tehresa Coles led the way with 20 points for the Saints which improved to an impressive 8-2 on the road.

Junior transfer Sarah Olson led all scorers with a career-high 27 points for Monmouth (7-11, 3-6) including the game-tying three with 39.9 seconds remaining. But on the ensuing possession the 5-11 Hetzke got position on the low block and reversed home the go-ahead basket over the Hawks' 6-5 Sophie Beaudry. Following a timeout, Monmouth point guard Helena Kurt drove the length of the court and got into the lane, but lost the handle and the Hawks never got a shot off.

Siena (11-7, 4-5) never trailed and led by as many as nine points in the first half in taking a 29-22 lead at the break. Olson singlehandedly kept Monmouth within shouting distance in an otherwise dominant first half by the Saints, scoring 14 points on 5-9 shooting while the rest of the Hawks combined to shoot just 2-22.

The Hawks would go on an 8-0 run early in the second half, rallying to within 38-37 with 13:23 left. Monmouth would tie the game three times thereafter and although Siena never led by more than four points the rest of the way, they would never relinquish the lead.

Coles was huge in all facets down the stretch and added a season-high nine rebounds. She shot 3-5 from three-point range and added five steals, in the process moving into fourth place in program history with 258 career thefts.

Sophomore captain Meghan Donohue joined Coles in double figures with 10 points and six rebounds, while Hetzke added eight points and 10 caroms.

Olson shot 7-12 from distance and scored more than half of Monmouth's points. Beaudry added six points, six rebounds and a career-high six blocks for Monmouth which has lost seven of nine.

Siena, which went 4-2 during a stretch where they played five of six on the road, will now play five of their next six at the ARC. The Saints open a three-game homestand Saturday when they host Manhattan on Alumni Day at 2 p.m. The game will be televised throughout New York on Time Warner Cable SportsChannel.