MONMOUTH, Ill. - The Benedictine University women's basketball team rallied late from down double digits but could not score the first win of the year, falling 72-68 at Monmouth.

The contest was a tale of two halves as for the second consecutive contest, Benedictine stormed out of the gates in the first half. Trailing by a point halfway through the opening 20 minutes, Benedictine used a 20-4 run to open a 16-point advantage. Vincenza Ranallo hit a three to open the run and put Benedictine ahead. Ranallo also finished the run by scoring the final 13 points in the stretch. Monmouth battled back, scoring the final eight points of the half to pull within 32-29 at the break. The Eagles limited the hosts to just 29.6 percent shooting in the first.

The opening of the second featured back and forth action. Benedictine led by five points at 38-33 following a jumper by Meghan Novak and still held a 47-45 lead with 11:39 remaining. Monmouth built momentum, swinging ahead by 12 with a 68-56 margin at the 2:58 mark. Ranallo knocked down a three with 1:25 remaining to pull Benedictine within 70-67. The Eagles missed a three to tie and did not make another shot in the defeat.

Monmouth shot 66.7 percent from the field in the second half of action. The game featured six ties and seven lead changes. Ranallo netted 18 points in the first half and finished with a career best 28, hitting seven shots including five threes. DeKayla Crayton pulled down 11 rebounds as Benedictine held a 35-30 edge on the glass.

Benedictine (0-2) takes part in the Main View Tipoff Tournament this weekend, hosted by Manchester University. Benedictine meets the hosts Friday night at 6:00 p.m.