WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. (Interstat) — In a pivotal Coastal Athletic Association clash between two of the league’s top teams, the Monmouth Hawks used a dominant second quarter and a standout performance from Divine Dibula to secure a 69-57 victory over the College of Charleston Cougars in women’s basketball on Sunday at the Multipurpose Activity Center.

The game, played before an announced crowd of 1,781, lived up to its billing as a matchup of surging contenders. Monmouth improved to 17-8 overall, while Charleston, which entered the game with a 10-game winning streak, saw its record dip to 20-4.

The contest turned decisively in the second period. After a tightly contested first quarter ended in an 18-18 deadlock, the Hawks seized control with a 20-9 frame. Monmouth’s defense clamped down, forcing difficult shots and capitalizing on the other end. A key sequence saw Kathy Kersaint-Pierre of Repentigny, Canada, hit back-to-back three-pointers, the second giving Monmouth a 36-27 lead with under three minutes left in the half. The Hawks closed the quarter on a 12-3 run to take a 38-27 advantage into the break, a margin they would not relinquish.

The most important part of the game was Monmouth’s ability to withstand every Charleston push in the second half. Each time the Cougars threatened to cut the deficit to single digits, the Hawks had an answer, primarily from Dibula. The 6-foot-1 forward from Ottawa, Canada, scored 11 of her game-high 19 points in the final quarter, consistently converting in the paint to stifle Charleston’s momentum. She added six rebounds and two assists in 29 minutes.

Charleston, which relied heavily on interior scoring with 32 points in the paint, struggled to find consistent offense outside of forward Grace Ezebilo. The Nigerian native posted a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds in a full 40-minute effort. Tyja Beans also added 10 points for the Cougars. However, Charleston’s typically potent attack was held to its second-lowest point total of the season.

Monmouth’s victory was a collective effort. Alexis Andrews from Montgomery, Alabama, provided crucial playmaking and scoring, finishing with 14 points and five assists. Kersaint-Pierre added 12 points, including three three-pointers, and GiGi Gamble of Somerset, New Jersey, directed the offense with seven assists to go with eight points. The Hawks’ ball security was paramount; they committed turnovers but limited Charleston to just four points off those miscues, while the Cougars coughed up the ball 22 times, leading to 22 Monmouth points.

The third quarter saw both teams trade baskets, with Monmouth maintaining a comfortable lead. Charleston won the third quarter 13-13 but could not make a significant dent. In the fourth, every Cougar basket was met with a response, often from Dibula. Her jump shot with 5:32 remaining pushed the lead to 59-51, and after a Charleston miss, she scored again inside off a feed from Andrews to extend the advantage to 10 points, effectively sealing the game.

Monmouth’s defense held Charleston to 37.7% shooting from the floor. The Hawks also won the rebounding battle 45-40, with Ella Farrelly grabbing eight boards.

The win marks a significant rebound for Monmouth, which fell to Stony Brook last Friday. For Charleston, the loss snaps an impressive streak and hands the Cougars just their second defeat since late November. Both teams remain in the thick of the CAA race as the regular season enters its final weeks.

Monmouth next travels to face William & Mary on Friday. College of Charleston looks to regroup on the road at Towson, also on Friday.