Despite a four-year playing career that included a shortened sophomore season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and three head coach transitions, Bridget Monaghan ’23 persevered and authored one of the most storied careers in recent Scranton Athletics history.
Following the conclusion of the 2022-23 season, Monaghan became the seventh three-time All-American in Athletic Department history as she earned Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) First Team honors. In 2021-22 and the shortened 2021 campaign, Monaghan received Honorable Mention accolades.
In fact, she was the first three-time All-American selection for Scranton since Taryn Mellody, DPT, ‘07, G’08, DPT’12, also from the women’s basketball program in 2005, 2006 and 2007.
The All-American accolades came along with being named the 2022-23 D3hoops.com Regional Player of the Year, a three-time All-Region selection, a two-time Landmark Conference Player of the Year and a three-time All-Landmark honoree.
Monaghan achieved remarkable success individually, and as a team the Lady Royals posted a staggering 86-9 record for a .905 winning percentage, four Landmark Conference championships, a pair of unbeaten Landmark seasons and three NCAA Tournament appearances.
“Every year, the team culture was consistent and it’s amazing how close of a group this Lady Royals team is. It was so special to be a part of it, and from my freshman year on, the seniors were so accepting and showed us the way,” Monaghan said.
The guard capped her career as the program’s all-time leading free throw shooter at 88.7 percent. Monaghan ranks in the top 20 all-time in program history in three-point percentage (39.8 percent, 2nd), three-pointers made (172, 4th), scoring average (14.0, 13th), free throws made (211, 14th) and total points (1,275, 17th).
“Bridget is one of a kind. She was not only a terrific player for us, but also an incredible leader and teammate,” head coach Ben O’Brien said.
She also holds the program’s single-season record with 74 three-pointers made as a junior in 2021-22 and led all of Division III in three-point percentage at 48.7 percent. In a 74-68 victory over DeSales University on Nov. 13, 2021, the sharpshooter matched the program’s single-game record with eight threes.
Coming into Scranton, Monaghan was recruited by head coach Trevor Woodruff. She played the first three years of her career for coach Nick DiPillo and then spent her senior season playing for coach O’Brien. The success continued through it all, based on transitions between coaches occurring as seamlessly as possible.
“It was really fun to play for Coach O’Brien this past year. He has such a great basketball IQ and it was fun to watch his wheels turn during games. From day one, he fit in perfectly,” Monaghan said.
During the 2022-23 campaign, the three-time captain became the 31st player in program history to score 1,000 career points as she accomplished the feat in a victory over George Fox University as part of the Stevens Institute of Technology Holiday Tournament on Dec. 29, 2022 in Hoboken, New Jersey.
A native of nearby Florham Park, New Jersey, she achieved the milestone in front of several family friends as she hit a pair of free throws with 2:45 to play in the fourth quarter.
“That was amazing how it worked out, I had a lot of friends and family who were able to be there. Leading up to that game, I was trying not to know where I was at, but I did have some people mention to me that ‘Oh, you’re a game or two away’,” Monaghan said.
Though her Scranton career has come to a close, Monaghan’s impact on the Lady Royals’ program will not soon be forgotten.
