The Monroe Mustangs women's basketball team got a weekend split at the MAC, defeating Hagerstown 92-62 on Saturday for their sixth straight win, but saw that streak come to an end with a stinging 90-74 defeat by Mercyhurst on Sunday.  Monroe was badly outrebounded and shot as cold as the winter weather on Sunday.  Nonetheless, according to the coach of the 17-7 Mustangs, it wasn't because of lack of effort.
 
"It was a great effort," Coach James Robinson, Jr. said in an interview after the game.  "But like the ice storm, we were cold as ice.  We were flat and when you're flat that's what happens.  But the effort was there."
 
The Lakers outrebounded Monroe 44-31, a rare sight considering the emergence of Monroe's front line all season.  They also shot 50.8% from the field, while the Mustangs could only manage 36.8% and only 26.3% in a rough second half.
 
"If you notice we went back to the way we were playing at the beginning of the year and it was a bad tome to do it," Coach Robinson said.  "The emotions that we're feeling now will hopefully catapult us to understanding what we need to bring to get us where we want to go this season."
 
Aaliyah Mercer paced Monroe with 18 points, Breana Bey had 17.
 
Monroe put out a much more robust performance on Saturday against the Hawks.  Mercer again paced Monroe with 17 points.  Shania Johnson had 15 points and ten assists off the bench.