BALTIMORE, Md., December 3, 2017 – In the final seconds of the game, Amani Williams put one off the glass and through the hoop, lifting the Monroe College women's basketball team to a 69-68 victory over Charm City Classic host Baltimore City Community College Sunday afternoon. The victory moves the Mustangs to 5-4 on the year, while the Panthers fall to 8-3.
 
The Mustangs and Panthers traded leads back-and-forth in the final minutes of Sunday's contest. Tyana Custis made a layup that put the Panthers ahead, 64-63, with just 1:24 on the clock. Cristina Soriano followed with a layup of her own just 20 seconds later to put Monroe back on top, 65-64, heading into the final minute of play. Dony'e Moses then drew a foul and went to the line, making both for Baltimore City to take the lead at 66-65 with just 41 seconds left. Soriano then drew a late foul, making both to give the Mustangs a one-point lead again. Shortly after, Amia Howard sank one for the home team to give the Panthers a 68-67 edge heading into the final seconds, but Williams fought to put one through before time ran out to clinch the win for Monroe.
 
A pair of threes by Jada Banks early on in the game helped the Mustangs to a 12-5 lead in the first. In the final minute of the quarter, Lisana Burnett drained a three of her own, sending the game to the second quarter with the Mustangs on top, 17-8.
 
The Mustangs and Panthers traded baskets to start the second frame until a 7-0 run by the home team made it a 21-19 game in favor of Monroe. Later on, a jumper by Custis put the Panthers ahead, 24-23. They later took a 26-24 advantage, but Soriano drew a foul while sinking a layup, and hit the ensuing free throw to give Monroe the edge once again. Four straight points late in the period gave Monroe a 31-29 lead, but the Panthers tied it up quickly on a Fatimah Blackwell jumper with just seconds remaining. In a moment of foreshadowing, Williams sank a jumper as the buzzer sounded, giving the Mustangs a 33-31 lead heading into halftime.
 
The Panthers rallied out of the break, taking a 42-38 advantage midway through the third quarter. Monroe turned things around by going on an 11-2 run, capped off with a three by Banks, to take a 49-44 lead into the fourth quarter.
 
A pair of quick layups by Williams and Soriano pushed Monroe ahead, 53-44, in the first 24 seconds of the fourth. A 9-1 run for the Panthers then made it a one-point game, with the Mustangs hanging on to a 54-53 lead with 4:48 on the clock. Samantha Hines then kept Monroe on top with a layup, but Moses quickly responded with one for the Panthers to keep the deficit at one. Custis then drew a three-point play, making the foul shot to give Baltimore City a two-point edge with 3:50 to go, but Hines quickly tied it up with a layup just 17 seconds later. Banks made 1-of-2 free throws shortly after to put Monroe up by one, but Moses followed with a basket to put the Panthers on top. Williams then nailed a jumper to take the lead right back, and later drew a foul, making both shots to make it a three-point lead for Monroe. Two-straight buckets for the Panthers put them ahead, 64-63, with 1:24 remaining, setting up for an exciting final minute that ended with Williams' game-winner.
 
Banks scored a team-high 23 points to lead the Mustangs on Sunday. Soriano completed a double-double with 12 points and a season-high 15 rebounds to go along with four blocks, capping off a strong weekend for the Mustangs' center. Williams finished with 12 points, seven rebounds and six assists for a solid stat line to go with her incredibly clutch play on Sunday.
 
The Mustangs return home on Tuesday, Dec. 5, for their first home contest in more than two weeks, when they host Union County College at the Monroe Athletic Complex. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m., following the men's matchup between Monroe and Union.
 
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 26 teams competing across nine sports. There are 18 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well as club men's rugby, and the newly added club women's rugby team, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Monroe Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus, will have six teams competing at the NJCAA Division III level beginning in the fall of 2017.
 
For more information about the Monroe Mustangs, please visit us at www.MonroeCollegeMustangs.com or follow us on social media: Facebook (Monroe College Athletics), Twitter (@Monroe_Mustangs) and Instagram (@monroemustangs).