WASHINGTON (Interstat) — In a defensive struggle defined by critical plays in the final minute, the Stony Brook Seawolves edged the Monmouth Hawks 51-45 in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Friday at CareFirst Arena.

The contest, a neutral-site meeting in the nation’s capital, saw Stony Brook overcome a slow start and a standout shot-blocking performance from Monmouth’s Divine Dibula to secure the victory in front of 1,300 spectators. The win improved Stony Brook’s overall record to 18-14, while Monmouth fell to 21-11.

Monmouth established an early advantage, closing the first quarter with a 16-11 lead. The Hawks’ defense, anchored by the 6-foot-1 Dibula of Ottawa, Canada, was formidable from the outset. Dibula recorded three of her game-high five blocks in the opening period, disrupting the Seawolves’ offense at the rim. Her presence inside helped Monmouth maintain a 23-22 edge at halftime despite scoring only seven points in the second quarter.

The third quarter was a stalemate, with both teams netting 15 points, sending the game into the final period with Monmouth clinging to a 38-37 lead. The Hawks’ offense, however, went cold when it mattered most. Monmouth managed just seven points in the fourth quarter on 3-of-15 shooting from the floor.

Stony Brook’s Janay Brantley took over down the stretch. The junior guard from Catskill, New York, scored seven of her team-high 14 points in the final quarter, including a crucial 3-pointer with 5:29 remaining that gave the Seawolves a 46-43 lead they would not relinquish. Brantley also added three assists and three blocks while playing all but 20 seconds of the contest.

The most important sequence of the game unfolded in the final 23 seconds with Stony Brook leading 49-45. Monmouth’ Alexis Andrews, who finished with 11 points, missed a 3-pointer that would have cut the deficit to one. Stony Brook’s Caitlin Frost secured the defensive rebound and was immediately fouled. Frost, a 6-foot-1 forward from Les Coteaux, Canada, who tallied 11 points and two blocks, calmly sank both free throws with 22 seconds left to extend the lead to six and effectively seal the outcome.

Monmouth’s ensuing possession ended in a turnover, and Brantley was fouled, making two more free throws with seven seconds left to provide the final margin. The Hawks committed four turnovers in the final two minutes while scoring only two points.

Dibula led Monmouth with 13 points, five blocks and three assists. GiGi Gamble of Somerset, New Jersey, was the Hawks’ leading scorer with 15 points, but was limited to 2-of-9 shooting in the second half. Stony Brook’s Sandra Frau-Garcia of Pego, Spain, orchestrated the offense with a game-high six assists to go with six points.

The game was a reversal of the teams’ two regular-season meetings, both won by Stony Brook. The Seawolves’ victory was built on persistent defense and capitalizing on Monmouth’s late offensive drought, advancing their season while handing the Hawks a third loss in their last four games.