NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., December 2, 2023 –
Carlota Gomez-Alonso and the Monroe College Mustangs women's basketball team put on a ridiculous defensive effort on Saturday in a 102-39 victory over Harford Community College at the Monroe Athletic Complex, setting the individual and team records for single-game steals in the win at home. The Mustangs improve to 5-4 overall with the win, while the Fighting Owls drop to 3-4.
Gomez-Alonso had an enormous game for the Mustangs, flirting with a quadruple-double in her record-breaking effort. She stole the ball from Harford 16 times, setting a new record for the Mustangs. That total is the most by a Mustang since Phyness Baldwin registered 12 steals on Feb. 5, 2019. She finished with 27 points, eight assists and seven rebounds in a career day. On top of that, the Mustangs totaled 35 steals as a team, setting a new program record and surpassing the previous mark of 33 set on Jan. 18, 2022.
An administrative technical foul allowed the Fighting Owls to start the game with a 1-0 lead. That proved to be no problem for the Mustangs, as they immediately went on the offensive, going on a 17-2 run for a big early lead. Harford began to battle back with an 8-2 run, but a three by Gomez-Alonso halted the run. Gomez-Alonso hit a running layup to put Monroe up by 13, but Harford's Miranda Turner made a bucket before the end of the period to send the game to the second with Monroe up, 26-15.
The Mustangs came out firing in the second quarter, scoring the first 10 points before the Fighting Owls got on the board. The Mustangs had full control of the game throughout the second frame, eventually pushing the lead past 30 points when a steal and a fast break by
Emma Wilson-Saltos made it a 53-22 game with just 1:14 left in the half.
Shanelle Smith added two more in the final minute to make it a 55-22 score heading into the break.
Wilson-Saltos and Gomez-Alonso had dominant first halves for the Mustangs. Wilson-Saltos totaled 18 points with six rebounds and six steals in the opening 20 minutes. Gomez-Alonso tallied 16 points to go with seven steals, three assists and three rebounds. Smith scored 11 off the bench, while
Nicole Bencosme led the team with six assists at the break.
The Fighting Owls had some momentum to open the second half, scoring six of the first eight points of the third quarter to cut the deficit to 29. The Mustangs then took over once again, scoring 18 straight points over the final 7:30 of the quarter to take a massive 75-28 advantage into the fourth.
It was much the same for the Mustangs and Fighting Owls in the final frame. After a layup for Harford made it an 80-32 game, the Mustangs rattled off 19 points in a row to make it a 99-32 advantage. A three by
Ariana Manforte with 1:10 put the Mustangs over the century mark, leading to the 102-39 final.
Wilson-Saltos finished second on the team with 21 points, adding eight rebounds, seven steals and four assists. Smith totaled 15 points with six boards and four steals.
Sharon Brown tallied 14 points and five rebounds., while Alysia Secchiaroli was the fifth Mustang in double figures with 12 points. Bencosme led the team with nine rebounds to go with seven assists, six points and four steals.
The Mustangs shot 51.8 percent (44-of-85) from the field in the win and outrebounded the Fighting Owls, 47-30. The Mustangs scored 57 points off turnovers and had a 74-18 advantage in points in the paint.
With a big regional victory over Harford in the bag, the Mustangs get the week off before returning to action next Saturday, Dec. 9, when they host defending NJCAA Div. II National Champion, and current Div. II No. 12 CCBC Essex at the MAC. Saturday's tip-off is set for 3 p.m.
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 28 teams competing across nine sports. There are 20 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well the Monroe College marching band, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus, 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 Mustangs Athletics), Twitter (
@Monroe_Mustangs) and Instagram (
@monroemustangs).
