ODESSA, Texas, November 3, 2021 – Playing for the first time since Feb. 22, 2020, the Monroe College Mustangs women's basketball team opened up the 2021-22 campaign against Salt Lake Community College on the first day of the Odessa College Tip-Off Tournament at the OC Sports Center. The Mustangs dropped a 66-49 final score to the Bruins, falling to 0-1 to open the year, while the Bruins start 1-0.
 
Wednesday's season opener saw the Bruins take a 7-2 lead in the first five minutes, but Aysia Pink narrowed the gap with a three-pointer. Olivia Medford then tied the game with a layup, and then made the ensuing free throw after being fouled on the play, putting Monroe up, 8-7. The Bruins responded with a 9-1 run to close out the first quarter, taking a 16-9 edge into the second frame.
 
The Mustangs went down by 10 early in the second quarter, but they chipped away and chipped away until they got back within four at 28-24 with 3:48 to play before halftime. The Bruins went back up by five before Pink nailed a three to make it a two-point game. Salt Lake fired back with nine straight points to close out the half with a 38-27 lead into the break.
 
Salt Lake went on a big run in the third quarter, outscoring the Mustangs, 13-5, for a 51-32 advantage going into the fourth quarter. The lead reached 26 points before the Mustangs scored seven straight. The Mustangs got back within 15 with just under three minutes to play, and again with 1:25 to go, but Salt Lake held on for a 66-49 win.
 
Pink led the Mustangs with 14 points on Wednesday, going 4-of-7 from beyond the arc. Sara Carvajal-Caro was next with 11 points to go with two blocks. Medford scored 10 points and added six rebounds, two assists, a block and a steal. Naomi Barnwell scored six points, grabbed five boards, blocked two shots and stole the ball twice.
 
The Mustangs shot 35.4 percent (17-of-48) from the field on Wednesday, while the Bruins made 22-of-62 (35.5 percent) field goals. Monroe sank 6-of-13 (46.2 percent) from three-point range, while Salt Lake hit 5-of-19 (26.3 percent) three-point attempts.
 
The Mustangs will look to get into the win column tomorrow, Nov. 4, when they take on host Odessa College on the second day of the Odessa College Tip-Off Tournament. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST.
 
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 39 teams competing across nine sports. There are 21 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well as club men's and women's rugby, the Monroe College marching band, and the newly added esports and men's volleyball programs, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus, has 18 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 Mustangs Athletics), Twitter (@Monroe_Mustangs) and Instagram (@monroemustangs).