NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., December 5, 2017 – With an all-around strong effort, the Monroe College women's basketball team took down Union County College by a score of 70-46 Tuesday evening at the Monroe Athletic Complex. The Mustangs improve to 6-4 on the season with the win, while the Owls fall to 8-2.
 
The Mustangs opened the game on a 10-3 run, but a pair of quick buckets for the Owls made it a three-point game. Monroe then scored seven of the next eight points to go up, 17-8. Jessica Woods hit a pair of free throws for the Owls late in the first quarter, but Jessica Degree drained a layup in the final minute to send the game to the second with Monroe ahead, 19-10.
 
A layup for Woods, followed by a three for Tania Scott got the Owls back within four, but the Mustangs quickly put four back on the board with baskets by Shanice Graves and Samantha Hines. Monroe went on an 8-1 run late in the frame, but the Owls got one more point when Woods hit one-of-two free throws, leaving the Mustangs up, 37-23, at halftime.
 
Monroe's lead fell to 12 early in the third before the Mustangs rattled off six in a row to go up, 47-29. Jessica Washington hit a three for the Owls, but Degree made a jumper to keep Monroe up by 17. Woods added a layup in the final minute of the third, but Monroe held a 15-point advantage heading into the fourth.
 
Washington hit another three to open the fourth, and then Ali-yah Powell made a layup to get the visitors back within 10. Samantha Hines halted Union's run with a layup, but Powell made a layup and Rhoda Agyemang added 1-of-2 free throws to make it a nine-point game. The Mustangs then took full control of the game, going on an impressive 17-0 run, to claim a 68-42 advantage with just under two minutes to play, leading to their 24-point win.
 
Cristina Soriano finished with 12 points, nine rebounds and five blocks in a strong effort for the Mustangs' center. Hines matched her 12 points, adding four boards and two assists. Degree tallied 10 points and five rebounds, while Lisana Burnett and Amani Williams had matching eight-point, eight-rebound, three-steal evenings. The Mustangs shot 45.2 percent from the floor on the night.
 
The Mustangs take to the road on Thursday, Dec. 7, to visit Harford Community College in Bel Air, Md. Tip-off is slated for 5 p.m.
 
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).