MONMOUTH – Before the start of Monday’s game against Jay, the Monmouth coaching staff was stressing how important it was to not let Jay’s Kaylie DeMillo have her way offensively.

Instead it was Monmouth’s Cortney Barrett who had her way with the Jay defense.

The sophomore post player made a living on the low blocks, racking up 18 points to lead the Mustangs to a 58-48 upset over the Jay Tigers.

Barrett shot 9-of-14 from the field and her 10 first-half points helped Monmouth (4-7) gain a 24-15 lead at the intermission.

“She dominated the inside,” said Jay coach Chris Bessey. “She’s very quick and she made the shots when she needed to.”

When Barrett would receive a pass she would quickly spot up to face the basket and bank in shot after shot over Jay defenders.

“Courtney’s a tough basketball player,” said Monmouth coach Rick Amero. “It’s always nice to get her some touches. We did a nice job of getting her the basketball.”

While Barrett was frustrating Jay (8-3), DeMillo was having frustrations of her own. She shot 2-of-9 from the floor in the first half and went into the locker room at half time with four points.

The third quarter, however, was a different story.

DeMillo scored 10 points in the third, including 3-pointers on three consecutive trips down the floor.

She finished with 22 points before fouling out with 1:32 left in the game.

“She didn’t shoot the ball well in the first half,” said Bessey. “Obviously in the second she was nailing them.”

DeMillo’s second trey came with 3:38 left in the third and gave the Tigers their first lead of the game at 29-28, but that’s when the young Mustangs received three key baskets from senior guard Bianca Cloutier (10 points). She drained three jumpers from the right wing before the end of the quarter. Those shots, along with a key 3-pointer from Sam Fairchild put Monmouth back out in front 37-32.

The Mustangs continued their torrid shooting in the final quarter and the Tigers never got closer than three points for the remainder of the game. Jill Armstrong was also an offensive factor for the Mustangs, finishing with 13 points. Although 10 came in the first half, her basket off an offensive rebound and subsequent free throw midway through the final quarter hiked the lead back to double digits.

“We really played as a team,” said Barrett. “We were wondering if we would and tonight proves it. It comes from practice. We practice really hard.”