NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., January 19, 2019 – The Monroe College Mustangs women's basketball team rolled to a 63-29 victory over Erie Community College on Saturday at the Monroe Athletic Complex on the first day of the Monroe College MLK Classic. The Mustangs improve to 15-5 on the year with the win, while the Kats drop to 5-9.
 
The Mustangs quickly took control in Saturday's contest, going up 9-0 across the first five minutes. Jaisy Soto hit a three to get Erie on the board, but the Mustangs responded with six straight points to go up, 15-3. The Kats finished the quarter with the final three points, but the Mustangs took a 15-6 lead into the second quarter.
 
Soto drained a three for the first bucket of the second frame, but the Mustangs responded with layups by Jermia Dumas and Trayvell Jenkins to go up, 19-9, with 5:35 left in the quarter. Arieana Speed hit a jumper, but Devon Adams made a layup and Shanice Graves drained a three to make it a 13-point game. The Kats got three more in the final 90 seconds, but Phyness Baldwin closed out the half with a fast-break layup to leave the Mustangs up, 26-14, heading into the break.
 
Adams took over early on in the third, scoring the first six Mustang points to help them take a 32-18. She sparked a 14-0 run for the Mustangs that put them ahead, 44-18. After Aisha Shabazz made a jumper for Erie, the Mustangs netted the last four points of the period to take a 48-20 advantage into the final frame.

 
The Mustangs' 4-0 run to close out the third turned into a 10-0 run with six points to open the fourth, putting Monroe up, 54-20. It was all Monroe from that point forward as the Mustangs closed out the game with a 34-point win.
 
Adams completed a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds, adding four blocks in an impressive effort for the freshman center. Jermia Dumas picked up 12 points off the bench, as well as five rebounds and an assist. Graves finished with nine points and a team-high five assists.
 
Sunday's game for the Mustangs has been canceled, so the Mustangs are set to play next on Thursday, Jan. 24, when they visit Lackawanna College in Scranton, Pa. Tip-off is set 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).