NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., November 6, 2018 – With a new head coach at the helm of the program, the Monroe College Mustangs women's basketball team enters the 2018-19 season with renewed hopes of success, beginning this Wednesday evening with the Mustangs' season-opening contest at Harford Community College.
 
New head coach Dana Warner brings with him a sense of familiarity, as he takes over the women's basketball program after 10 incredibly successful years with the Mustangs men's basketball team, most recently serving as the team's associate head coach. Warner also played two season at Monroe from 1998-2000, where he helped lead the Mustangs to their first ever Region Championship at the Division I level.
 
The Mustangs finished 17-11 a year ago, and are just two seasons removed from a run to the NJCAA Div. I Women's Basketball Championship tournament. The Mustangs earned their way into the national tournament in 2016-17 after claiming the Region XV and District Championships.
 
Monroe returns an experienced group to this year's team. Shanya Gonzalez, Shanice Graves, Phyness Baldwin and Ty-Tiana Parker all played prominent roles for the Mustangs a year ago, and will to continue their growth to help the team succeed this season. Aneisha Lyons played 26 games for the Mustangs in 2016-17 before missing last season. Andrea Young and Trayvell Jenkins both spent time with the Mustangs last season, but will look for make an impact this year.
 
Courtney Irabor comes to Monroe as a transfer from Mohawk Valley Community College. She is joined by six freshman newcomers who will look to help the program reach new heights this season. Irabor, Devon Adams and Jozai Vazquez bring height to the team to help the Mustangs in the paint on both ends of the court. Jermia Dumas and Rahsay Swift are a pair of versatile athletes who can play both guard and forward, while India Keene and Destiny Jennings have set roles at guard and forward, respectively.
 
Monroe's new season begins on Wednesday, Nov. 7, when they visit Harford Community College in Bel Air, Md. The Mustangs will then return to Maryland over the weekend to compete in the Montgomery Tip-Off Classic.
 
The Mustangs will host their first tournament of the season with the Monroe Classic on Nov. 17-18. The following weekend, they return to Maryland for the third time, this time for the Jim Brown Classic, hosted by Hagerstown Community College. The Mustangs will make yet another trip down to Maryland from Nov. 30-Dec. 2, when they play in the Baltimore City Community College Classic.
 
A pair of home contests against Hostos Community College on Dec. 11 and SUNY Sullivan on Dec. 15 will close out the home slate for Monroe in the 2018 calendar year. Right before the New Year, the Mustangs will compete in the National Title IX Holiday Invitational in Washington, D.C.
 
The 2019 calendar year gets even busier for the Mustangs, beginning with a home game against Harford on Jan. 5. They visit Harcum College on Jan. 8 before playing an "away" game against the Monroe Express at the MAC on Jan. 10. Monroe then heads up to Loch Sheldrake, N.Y., for a matchup with SUNY Sullivan on Jan. 15.
 
The Mustangs will be co-hosts of the Monroe College MLK Classic, and men's and women's tournament to be played at the MAC, from Jan. 19-20. The Mustangs then hit the road to play Lackawanna College on Jan. 24 before finishing up the regular season with seven straight home games from Feb. 2-21. The Mustangs will host ASA College on Feb. 12, and will take on the Monroe Express for the second time on Feb. 21 to cap off the regular season.
 
The Mustangs will be in Bel Air, Md. Wednesday evening to face off with the Fighting Owls from Harford to open the season. 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 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).