NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., November 17, 2018 – In its first home game of the season, the Monroe College Mustangs women's basketball team took down Monroe Community College by a score of 51-39 on the first day of the Monroe Classic at the Monroe Athletic Complex. Both teams leave the day with a 3-1 overall record on the season.
 
The Tribunes grabbed an early 6-0 advantage in Saturday's matchup. The Mustangs chipped away to get back within one, but a jumper by Khady Sarr put the Tribunes back up by three. Courtney Irabor closed out the quarter with a three for the Mustangs, sending the game to the second with an 8-8 tie.
 
The Tribunes once again took the lead with four points to start the new quarter, but the Mustangs quickly tied it up again. The Tribunes got a three from Cierra Harrison a few minutes later to take a 17-12 lead, but Aneisha Lyons fired back with a three of her own to cut the deficit back down to two. Harrison hit a jumper on the next possession to give the Tribunes a 19-15 lead that they would take into the half.
 
Shanice Graves opened the second half with a three to get the Mustangs right back within one. Shortly after, a three by Josai Vazquez put the Mustangs ahead, 22-21, but a three-point play by Zorria West put the visitors back up by two. Phyness Baldwin quickly tied it with a layup after a steal by Graves, and then a long ball by Lyons gave the Mustangs a three-point advantage. Samirah Henderson then drained a three for the Tribunes to tie the game up once again at 27-27. The teams traded leads throughout the final minutes of the third quarter, but a layup by Trayvell Jenkins put the Mustangs ahead, 33-32, heading into the fourth.
 
The Mustangs opened up the fourth with a 9-0 run to grab a 43-32 advantage over the Tribunes with just five minutes remaining. The Tribunes cut the deficit back down to seven with 3:26 to play, but a three-point play by Lyons made it a 10-point game with 101 seconds to go. The Mustangs then scored the next three points to go up by 13. West hit a free throw with 14 seconds left for the Tribunes, but that was the end of the scoring, as the Mustangs picked up a 12-point victory.
 
Lyons led the Mustangs with 17 points, helping the late run with 12 second-half points. Graves added nine points with five rebounds and three steals, while Vazquez and Destiny Jennings matched her five boards. Baldwin added five points, five steals, five assists and four rebounds.
 
The Mustangs return to action tomorrow, Nov. 18, to close out the Monroe Classic against the Naval Academy Preparatory School. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. following the ASA College vs. Monroe Community College matchup at noon.
 
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).