Where: TD Bank Sports Center, Hamden
When: Today, 7 p.m.
Records: Monmouth 8-15 (3-7 Northeast); Quinnipiac 9-13 (5-5)
Radio: WQUN-1220; Internet: quinnipiacbobcats.com
WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Scouting Monmouth: Monmouth has lost six straight to Quinnipiac, including an NEC quarterfinal matchup in 2010. MU’s last win came in the series was Jan. 2, 2010. The Hawks have lost three straight games overall, all by at least 14 points and have fallen into 10th in the conference. They are 2-10 on the road. Scoring leader Andrew Nicholas is questionable with a heel injury. Jesse Steele is coming off a career high 27 points vs. Bryant last time out.
Scouting Quinnipiac: The Bobcats got an important win at Wagner last time out to move into a tie for seventh place in the NEC standings. Ousmane Drame had a stellar two-game road trip scoring 32 points and grabbing 30 rebounds coming off the bench. The Bobcats are 4-6 at home but have won their past two games at Hamden. Quinnipiac went 36 for 44 from the free-throw line in their win at Wagner. The Bobcats were last in the NEC rankings from the line prior to that performance.
— Bill Cloutier

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL GAMEDAY — NEC TOURNAMENT SEMIFINALS
MONMOUTH AT QUINNIIPIAC
♦When: Today, 7 p.m.
♦Where: TD Bank Sports Center, Hamden
♦Records: No.3 Monmouth (18-12, 12-6 NEC); No. 2 Quinnipiac (22-8, 14-5)
♦Radio: WQUN 1220-AM
Video: northeastconference.tv
KEEP AN EYE ON
♦Scouting Quinnipiac: The Bobcats need two more wins to secure their first NCAA tournament berth. Quinnipiac got 17 rebounds from Brittany McQuain to edge Mount St. Mary’s on Saturday 65-61. Guard Felicia Barron scored her 1,000th career point in the game. Quinnipiac last reached the NEC final in 2006. Earlier in the regular season, Quinnipiac defeated Monmouth at the Hawks’ home court, 75-63, as Barron registered a game-high 23 points, while three additional Bobcats posted points in double digits, including McQuain (13), Samantha Guastella 11), and Camryn Warner (10).
♦Scouting Monmouth: The Hawks knocked Quinnipiac out of the tourney last year 55-36 and hold a 7-6 series edge at Quinnipiac. They are 3-1 against the Bobcats in NEC tournament play. Monmouth enters defeated No. 6 LIU Brooklyn, 68-56, on Saturday. Junior Alysha Womack scored a game-high 23 points and Abby Martin had her fourth double-double of the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds in the victory. Martin’s 48.3 field-goal percentage ranks sixth amongst conference opponents. Together, Monmouth averages 61.4 ppg and 38.4 rpg.
♦The Final: The winner of tonight’s game will meet the winner of Sacred Heart vs. Robert Morris in the finals on Sunday at 3 p.m. on ESPNU. If Quinnipiac faces Robert Morris, the Bobcats will host the game. If Sacred Heart wins, the Pioneers will host the final.
 Bill Cloutier

The Bobcats won their second straight game on Saturday night, cruising to a 23-point win over Monmouth.
Here are the details from the schools web site:

WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – James Johnson (Queens, N.Y.) tossed in a game-high 18 points on Thursday night, as the Quinnipiac University men’s basketball team cruised to a Northeast Conference victory at Monmouth University, 71-48, at the Multipurpose Athletic Center in West Long Branch, N.J. With the win, the Bobcats have now defeated the Hawks in six straight meetings, winning five of those match-ups by double-digits.
Quinnipiac, now 13-10 overall and 6-6 in the NEC, climbed back to the .500 mark in conference play. James Johnson led the way offensively, as the senior guard finished 8-of-16 from the floor, 2-of-6 from long distance, dished out three assists and snatched one steal in the triumph. Ousmane Drame (Boston, Mass.), Jamee Jackson (Newark, N.J.) and Ike Azotam (Boston, Mass.) each nabbed eight points and combined for more than half of the team’s rebounds (26). Dave Johnson (Jackson, N.J.) joined the attack with nine points to go along with five rebounds and a game-high seven assists.
Quinnipiac is back in action on Wednesday, Feb. 8 when the team plays host to intrastate rival Central Connecticut State. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the TD Bank Sports Center. For all the latest news, scores and highlights pertaining to the men’s basketball program, visit www.QuinnipiacBobcats.com.