NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., January 17, 2018 – In a stellar all-around effort at the Monroe Athletic Complex, the Monroe College women's basketball team defeated Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) by a score of 79-66 on Wednesday. The Mustangs improve to 11-8 on the year with the win, while CCRI drops to 12-8.
 
The Mustangs opened the game on a 6-0 run before CCRI's Nia Mims hit a three to cut the lead in half. Monroe followed that up with another six-point run on consecutive layups from Lisana Burnett, Cristina Soriano and Amani Williams. Monroe's lead reached 11 when Jada Banks drained a three at the 3:35 mark, and hit that point again late in the frame when Phyness Baldwin hit one from long distance. A pair of free throws by CCRI's Tiondra Hands sent the game to the second quarter with Monroe ahead, 28-19.
 
Monroe's lead fell to seven points when Kelsey Hernandez hit a three for CCRI with 7:07 left in the half. The Mustangs responded with a three by Williams, followed by a good jumper for Banks. Baldwin then sank another trey for the Mustangs to push the lead to 15 points. Four straight points by the Knights made it an 11-point game, but Baldwin earned a three-point play moments later to go back up by 14. Hands scored five straight for the Knights down the stretch, but Burnett put the final points on the board for the half, leaving Monroe up, 47-36, heading into the locker room.
 
The Mustangs opened the third quarter on a 9-3 run to push their lead out to 19 points. CCRI managed four three-pointers throughout the frame, but Monroe kept pace, and then some, taking a 62-48 lead into the final frame.
 
CCRI made an early run in the fourth with a 10-6 run to get within 11. Late in the frame, a four-point stretch for the visitors cut the deficit to eight points with just 2:13 to play. Baldwin hit a jumper to make it a double-digit lead for Monroe again, but Jada Littlejohn followed with a layup to make it an eight-point game once again with 1:33 on the clock. Banks then hit a dagger three, and followed that up the next time down the court with a layup to help Monroe hang on for the 13-point victory.
 
Four different Mustangs finished in double figures on Wednesday. Banks lead the way with 17 points, while also contributing six rebounds, four assists and three steals. Williams picked up 16 points to go with seven steals, five assists and four boards. Baldwin matched her 16 points, while Cristina Soriano finished with 10 points, seven rebounds and three blocks. Burnett just missed a double-double, scoring nine points while pulling down a game-high 11 rebounds.
 
The Mustangs will play next on Saturday, Jan. 20, as part of the Monroe College MLK Classic men's and women's tournament at the Monroe Athletic Complex. Monroe opens the weekend against Niagara County Community College on Saturday at 6 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, 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).