BEL AIR, Md., December 7, 2017 – In a hard-fought back-and-forth battle on the road against one of the nation's top teams, the Monroe College women's basketball team dropped a close 69-64 decision at No. 14 Harford Community College Thursday evening. The Mustangs drop to 6-5 on the season with the loss, while Harford remains undefeated at 8-0.
 
The Mustangs had their outside game working early, as a Samantha Hines jumper and threes from Amani Williams and Lisana Burnett saw the game reach an 8-8 stalemate four minutes in. The Fighting Owls then went on a six-point run, leading them to take a 16-11 advantage into the second quarter.
 
Harford took a seven-point lead early in the second frame, but Monroe got the three ball working again, as Shanice Graves and Phyness Baldwin hit back-to-back long balls to get within a point. Baldwin sank a layup shortly after, putting the Mustangs up, 22-21. Both teams traded the lead until Monroe went on a five-point run to take a 29-26 lead with 4:42 left before halftime. The Fighting Owls then rattled off seven straight points, taking the lead back at 33-29. Monroe and Harford went back-and-forth down the stretch, sending the game to the half with the home team ahead, 35-33.
 
Harford's Joy Morton scored the opening basket of the second half, but the Mustangs scored the next five, including a trey for Jada Banks, to claim a 38-37 lead. Harford then went on an eight-point run to take a 45-38 edge. Shortly after, the Mustangs turned the tables and scored nine straight points to claim a 50-47 lead, but a three-point play by Harford's Tianna Swearinger to close out the period sent the game to the fourth with a 50-50 draw.
 
Harford continued scoring into the fourth, completing a seven-point rally to take a 54-50 advantage. As had been the trend, the Mustangs swung the momentum right back in their favor, scoring seven in a row to go up by three with 4:20 to go. Swearinger hit a three to tie it up, but Cristina Soriano drained a jumper to put the Mustangs back in the lead. Harford then tallied seven straight to take a 64-59 lead with just 2:25 on the clock. Hines made a two to cut into the deficit, but the Mustangs were unable to score the next few times down the court, allowing Harford to push its lead to eight with just 21 seconds remaining. Baldwin netted a three with eight seconds remaining, but it was not enough to get Monroe back in it, as the Mustangs fell by five.
 
Hines had an incredible game for Monroe, finishing with 15 points and 18 rebounds to lead the Mustangs on Thursday. Baldwin matched her with 15 points, including three buckets from beyond the arc. Soriano pulled down 12 rebounds, while Williams dished out a team-high five assists to go along with eight points.
 
The Mustangs play next on Saturday, Dec. 16, when they head down to Rockville, Md. To compete in the Montgomery Rockville Men's and Women's Holiday Tournament, hosted by Montgomery College. The Mustangs open the weekend with a matchup against Erie Community College at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
 
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, has six teams competing at the NJCAA Division III level as of the fall 2017 season.
 
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).