MOUNT VERNON – Junior center Madison Wauters netted a career-high 24 points and guided Cornell's women's basketball team to a pivotal 58-51 home win over Midwest Conference challenger Monmouth Thursday night inside the Small Sport Center.
 
The Rams bounced back from Tuesday's tough loss to Grinnell, upping their record to 10-5 overall and 5-3 in the MWC. Cornell is among three teams two games back in the loss column to first-place Ripon (9-1 MWC).
 
With the game tied 39-39 through three quarters, Wauters shouldered the offensive load with 10 points in the final period, bringing the Rams home down the stretch. She finished an efficient 8-of-12 shooting from the field and sank all eight of her free throw attempts. Wauters also grabbed eight rebounds.  
 
Cornell surged ahead with an 11-2 spurt to start the fourth quarter. Monmouth (9-6 overall, 6-3 MWC) responded with nine unanswered points, making it a 50-49 game with less than two minutes to go.
 
The Rams went back to the 6-foot-3 Wauters, who converted a bucket in the paint and then two free throws on the next possession to stretch the lead to 54-49. Single free throws by Megan Gandrup and Madison Osborn, followed by a pair from Wauters sealed the win in the closing seconds.   
 
Sophomore Ani'ja Simmons had a strong game with 10 points and nine rebounds. Gandrup delivered three 3-pointers and finished with 10 points off Cornell's bench. Kali March added eight points.
 
Monmouth was led by Jordan Kintigh's double-double of 13 points and 13 rebounds.  
 
Cornell travels to play Knox (9-9 overall, 7-3 MWC) at 3 p.m. Saturday in Galesburg, Ill.