WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. (Interstat) — In a defensive struggle defined by offensive inefficiency, the Howard Lady Bison grinded out a 57-44 victory over the Monmouth Hawks in a non-conference women’s basketball game Thursday night at the Multipurpose Activity Center.

The game, played before an announced crowd of 529, was a stark contrast in styles, with Howard relying on a dominant individual performance to overcome a poor team shooting night, while Monmouth’s offensive woes proved too significant to surmount.

Howard’s Zennia Thomas was the undeniable force in the contest. The 6-foot-2 forward from Cleveland, Ohio, controlled the paint on both ends of the floor, scoring a game-high 21 points and anchoring a defense that held the Hawks to just 27.8 percent shooting from the field. Thomas played 34 minutes and was the primary reason the Lady Bison managed to pull away in the second half despite their own struggles.

The contest was a low-scoring affair from the opening tip. Howard held a narrow 13-12 lead after a first quarter that saw both teams combine for more turnovers than made field goals. The defensive intensity ramped up further in the second period, where Monmouth’s offense completely stalled. The Hawks managed just six points in the quarter, allowing Howard to build a 22-18 halftime lead despite the Lady Bison scoring only nine points themselves in the frame.

The game’s decisive run came in the third quarter. Howard finally found a semblance of offensive rhythm, outscoring Monmouth 19-11 to take a 41-29 lead into the final period. Thomas was instrumental in the quarter, scoring on multiple interior possessions as the Lady Bison began to exploit their size advantage. Monmouth never seriously threatened in the fourth quarter, as Howard maintained its double-digit lead to secure the win.

While Thomas led the scoring, she received support from Zoe Stewart of Terre Haute, Ind., who added eight points, and Destiny Bynum-Johnson, who chipped in 10 points. For Howard, the victory was earned on the glass and at the free-throw line. The Lady Bison out-rebounded Monmouth, particularly on the offensive end, and shot an efficient 9 for 10 from the charity stripe.

Monmouth was led by Alexis Andrews of Montgomery, Ala., who finished with 15 points in a full 40 minutes of action. Kathy Kersaint-Pierre of Repentigny, Canada, added 10 points for the Hawks. However, Monmouth’s shooting was its ultimate undoing. The team connected on only 2 of 17 attempts from beyond the three-point arc and left points on the board by making just 12 of 19 free throws.

Statistically, the game was a testament to defensive pressure and offensive frustration. Howard shot 33.3 percent from the field, while Monmouth was even colder at 27.8 percent. Both teams committed more turnovers than assists, with Howard giving the ball away 14 times and Monmouth 15 times. The Lady Bison’s offensive rating of 82.9 points per 100 possessions, while low, was markedly better than the Hawks’ anemic 65.6 rating.

With the win, Howard improves its record to 5-1 on the young season, bouncing back from a narrow three-point loss at VCU earlier in the week. The Lady Bison will look to continue their strong start when they host William & Mary on Sunday.

Monmouth falls to 1-3 with the loss. The Hawks, who were projected by Interstat’s ELO system to have a slight 50.90 percent probability to win, have now dropped three straight after a season-opening victory over Chestnut Hill. They will try to get back on track Monday with a road game at Marist.