ROCKVILLE, Md., November 10, 2018 – A big first-half lead helped the Monroe College Mustangs women's basketball team pick up an 85-74 victory over Frederick Community College on Saturday in the opening game of the Montgomery-Rockville Tip-Off Classic. The Mustangs improve to 1-1 and earn the first win of head coach Dana Warner's career, while Frederick falls to 1-1.
 
The Mustangs fell behind early, as the Cougars took a 17-12 advantage. The Mustangs then went on a 14-0 run to close out the first quarter with a 26-17 lead.
 
The run continued into the second for Monroe, as Shanya Gonzalez opened the new quarter with a two-pointer to push the lead to 28-17. Monroe's lead reached 23 points with 4:24 left in the half after a 16-point run for the Mustangs. Frederick closed out the half with a three, but Monroe held a 47-29 edge heading into the break.
 
Courtney Irabor had a big first half for the Mustangs, leading the team with 13 points and five rebounds through 20 minutes. Phyness Baldwin contributed eight points, five assists and four steals in a strong first half.
 
The Cougars chipped away at the Mustangs' lead early in the third quarter, getting back within six with 5:52 on the clock. The Mustangs were then able to turn things around, going back up by 15 after a pair of Baldwin free throws, eventually taking a 69-56 lead into the fourth quarter.
 
Monroe's lead grew to as many as 18 points in the fourth, and the Mustangs kept their distance the rest of the way. In the final 66 seconds, the Cougars drained back-to-back three-pointers, but that was only enough to get them within 11, as the Mustangs finished things up with an 85-74 win.
 
Irabor finished up 19 points and 14 rebounds for her first double-double as a Mustang. Baldwin was close to a quadruple-double with 12 points, nine assists, seven boards and seven steals. Aneisha Lyons and Jermia Dumas matched with 12 points apiece, while Shanice Graves added 10.
 
The Mustangs shot 51.5 percent (34-of-66) from the field in the win, while holding the Cougars to just 34.9 percent shooting. Monroe was also good on 14-of-20 (70 percent) free throw attempts.
 
The Mustangs finished up their weekend at the Montgomery-Rockville Tip-Off Classic on Sunday when they take on the host Raptors. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m.
 
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 27 teams competing across nine sports. There are 18 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well as club men's and women's rugby, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Monroe Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus as of the fall of 2017, has seven teams competing at the NJCAA Division III level.
 
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).