NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., November 7, 2019 – It was a grand debut for freshman Cheyenne Talbot, as the newcomer netted 30 points to lift the Monroe College Mustangs women's basketball team to a comeback 53-47 victory over the Monroe College Express in the Mustangs' season opener Thursday evening at the Monroe Athletic Complex. The Mustangs start their season 1-0, while the Express drop to 1-1.
 
Talbot was all over the court from the Mustangs from start to finish. She made 8-of-19 from the field in the win, including 2-of-6 from three-point range. Talbot also made 12-of-15 free throws to help her reach an impressive 30 points. She also led the team with eight rebounds, three assists and two steals.
 
Thursday's opener got off to a slower start, but the Mustangs got on the board first on a layup by Talbot two minutes into the game. Arianna Wilder tied it up shortly after for the Express, but the Mustangs scored five straight to take a 7-2 lead. Desteny Arzu got the Express back on the board with a layup, then Barbara Valentin made the back half of a pair of free throws to get within two. Talbot scored on back-to-back possessions to put the Mustangs up by six, but the Express picked up the final points of the quarter on a Quanisha Griffin lay-in to send the game to the second with an 11-7 score in favor of the Mustangs.
 
Griffin drained the first three-pointer of the game 68 seconds into the second period to get the Express within one, and then Arzu hit a layup shortly after to put the Express on top, 12-11. The Express continued to roll, taking a 19-13 lead before the Mustangs scored four straight to get back within two. Griffin made a layup to make it a four-point game, but then ToniRenee Blandford scored two for the Mustangs to once again get within two. The Express then added two more points on two separate trips to the free-throw line, taking a 23-19 lead into halftime.
 
Talbot led the Mustangs with 11 points, six rebounds and two assists at the break. Adams, Daja Wentz and Blandford all added two points in the half. Ineysiah Surrell pulled down four rebounds, while Maya Crimes added three.
 
The Mustangs got off to a quicker start in the third quarter, rattling off seven straight points and opening with a 9-2 run to go up, 28-25. The Express responded shortly after with a 9-0 run to take a 36-30 lead with 1:23 left in the frame. Each team made a free throw down the stretch, sending the game to the fourth with the Express up, 37-31.
 
The Mustangs had another hot start in the fourth quarter, scoring seven straight points to jump into the lead, 38-37. The Express then scored three straight, but a layup by Wentz tied it up again. Two free throws by Talbot put the Mustangs on top by two, but a three by Imoni Beauvais put the Express back in the lead, 43-42, with 3:36 left in the fourth.
 
Talbot then got back to the line, making both shots to put the Mustangs ahead, 44-43. Monae Laing made 1-of-2 from the line to tie it for the Express, but Adams made a layup and finished a three-point play after a foul to put the Mustangs ahead, 47-44. The Express got back within two at 48-46, but Talbot drained two more free throws to make it a four-point game. Anya Shepard made 1-of-2 from the line for the Express, but Talbot was sent to the line twice more late, making 3-of-4 to close things out with the Mustangs on top, 53-47.
 
Wentz finished with eight points, three rebounds and two assists for the Mustangs in the win. Adams added seven points and a team-high nine rebounds. Crimes did not score, but pulled down eight boards and blocked two shots.
 
The Mustangs will host the Monroe Classic this weekend at the Monroe Athletic Complex from Saturday, Nov. 9, through Sunday, Nov. 10. The Mustangs will take on Lackawanna College in Saturday's second game at 2 p.m.
 
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 31 teams competing across nine sports. There are 19 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well as club men's and women's rugby, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus, has 12 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).