NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., February 16, 2019 – The Monroe College Mustangs women's basketball team dropped a 71-63 decision to Union County College on Saturday at the Monroe Athletic Complex. The Mustangs drop to 18-8 with the loss, while the Owls improve to 22-4.
 
The first quarter got off to a slow start, seeing the first bucket drop at the 6:26 mark when Phyness Baldwin made a layup. The Mustangs led 12-7 with two minutes left in the period, but four straight points from Union County's Tiffany Jackson made it a one-point game. Shanice Graves then made a three with time about to expire, giving Monroe a 15-11 edge heading into the second frame.
 
The Mustangs took a seven-point lead when Shanya Gonzalez drained a three, but eight straight points by the Owls put them up by a point. A layup by Jermia Dumas put Monroe back in the lead, but a three by Jessica Washington left the Owls on top, 24-22, heading into the break.

Both teams traded the lead back-and-forth early on in the third quarter, eventually leading to a 29-29 stalemate by the 8:13 mark. The Owls took a 32-31 lead, but five straight points by the Mustangs put them up, 36-32. A 41-37 lead for Monroe quickly became a one-point lead for the Owls after a 5-0 run. Jennings tied the game with a free throw, and then India Keene drained a three to give Monroe a three-point lead. Union County's Rhoda Agyemang made a layup for the final points of the quarter, leaving the Mustangs up, 45-44, heading into the fourth.
 
The owls opened up the third with a 12-2 run to take a 56-47 lead with 6:51 left to play. After going up, 60-49, the Owls maintained a double-digit lead until Aneisha Lyons hit back-to-back threes to make it an eight-point game with 24 seconds left, but those were the final points of the game.
 
Lyons accounted for a team-high 17 points, adding five boards and three assists. Baldwin followed with 12 points and a team-best four assists. Jennings added 10 points and eight rebounds. Jermia Dumas pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds.
 
The Mustangs will look to bounce back on the road on Tuesday, Feb. 19, when they visit Raritan Valley Community College in North Branch, N.J. Tip-off is scheduled 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).