NORTH EAST, Md., December 14, 2019 – The Monroe College Mustangs women's basketball team nearly pulled off a huge comeback in the fourth quarter on Saturday in its first matchup at the Cecil College Holiday Classic against host Cecil. Unfortunately, the Mustangs ran out of time to catch up, falling to the Seahawks by a score of 65-60. The Mustangs fall to 5-6 on the year with the loss, while the Seahawks improve to 4-2.
The Mustangs came into the fourth quarter staring at a 16-point deficit, which only got steeper when the Seahawks scored the first two points of the period. After Cecil took a 68-40 lead with 7:36 to play, the Mustangs scored 10 straight points over the next three minutes to cut the difference down to eight points.
After a few possessions back-and-forth without any scoring, the
Daja Wentz sank a jumper while being fouled, and completed the three-point play to get Monroe within five with 3:#6 on the clock. The Mustangs' 13-0 run came to a half when Jayla Smith made the second of two free throws for the Seahawks, and shortly after, Destiny Perry got to the line, making both shots to put Cecil up, 61-53, with just 2:58 to go. Wentz got to the line on the Mustangs' next two possessions, making 3-of-4 foul shots to bring Monroe back within five, but Kayla Thompson made two from the charity stripe shortly after to give the Seahawks a seven-point edge once again.
India Keene made a layup with 2:03 on the clock to get the Mustangs back within five points. After a miss by Cecil, the Mustangs got two more from
Maya Crimes to make it a three-point game at 63-60. Smith followed that up with a layup for Cecil to put the home team up, 65-60, with 1:34 still left on the clock. Monroe was able to keep the Seahawks from scoring on their next couple of possessions, but the Mustangs were also unable to pick up any points, seeing the final 94 seconds of the game go scoreless and see the Seahawks hang on by five.
Keene had her best game of the season for the Mustangs with 20 points, nine rebounds and four steals on Saturday. Crimes finished with eight points and a season-high 15 boards. Wentz tallied 14 points and matched Keene's four steals in the game.
Devon Adams netted eight points with five rebounds off the bench.
The Mustangs will look to leave Maryland with a win, as they wrap up their weekend at the Cecil College Holiday Classic on Sunday, Dec. 15, with a game against Chesapeake College. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 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 Mustangs), Twitter (@Monroe_Mustangs) and Instagram (@monroemustangs).
