NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., December 9, 2023 –
Emma Wilson-Saltos set a new career high in scoring on Saturday, but it was not enough, as the Monroe College Mustangs women's basketball team dropped a 91-68 score to NJCAA Div. II No. 5 CCBC Essex at the Monroe Athletic Complex. The Mustangs fall to 5-5 overall with the loss, while the Knights improve to 6-4.
Wilson-Saltos did her best to get the Mustangs back in the game late, scoring 11 of her career-high 24 points in the fourth quarter of Saturday's contest. She made 10-of-21 shots on the afternoon, and went 4-of-5 from the free-throw line. Wilson-Saltos completed a double-double with 10 rebounds, stealing the ball three times and adding a block as well to a strong outing.
Carlota Gomez-Alonso scored off the opening tip for the Mustangs, but the Knights responded with seven straight points to take an early lead. After the Knights took an 11-4 lead, the Mustangs rallied back within a point at 13-12 after another Gomez-Alonso layup. The Knights then swung the momentum back in their favor, scoring the final eight points of the opening frame to take a 21-12 lead into the second.
Nicole Bencosme scored the first three points of the second quarter to get Monroe within six, but the Knights quickly went up by 10 after picking up the next four points.
Sharon Brown made a layup for the Mustangs, but CCBC Essex's Kierran Walker responded with a three. Monroe scored the next four to get within seven, but the Knights responded with the next four to go back up by 11. Wilson-Saltos sank a jumper, but the Knights came right back with six points to go up by 15. The Mustangs then caught fire, scoring 10 straight points to cut the deficit down to five at 38-33. CCBC Essex's Ore Ogunwolere closed out the half with a layup, seeing the Knights take a 40-33 edge into halftime.
Bencosme led the Mustangs with nine points at the break. Wilson-Saltos was next with eight points, while Gomez-Alonso and Brown each tallied seven points in the half.
The third quarter got off to a slow start until Bencosme hit a layup. The Knights then found their rhythm, scoring 12 straight points to take a 52-35 advantage on the Mustangs. The lead hit 21 points for the Knights after Ore Ogunwolere hit a three with 3:43 left in the third. The Mustangs scored five straight to chip away at the deficit, but the Knights scored the next four to go back up by 20. The Knights took a 21-point edge into the fourth quarter.
The teams were trading points early in the fourth quarter, but a couple threes for the visitors had the Knights up, 76-50. The Mustangs went on an eight-point run to get within 18, but Powell hit a three for the Knights to halt Monroe's momentum. Wilson-Saltos scored four straight for Monroe, but Jayla Scott drained back-to-back threes for the Knights to keep the game out of reach, leading to the eventual final score of 91-68.
In addition to Wilson-Saltos' career high, Bencosme had a season-best performance with 17 points on Saturday, providing a team-high three assists in the game. Brown added 11 points, while Gomez-Alonso tallied 10 with five boards.
Alycia Secchiaroli was second on the team with nine rebounds in the game.
The Mustangs will hit the road next weekend for the Montgomery Holiday Tournament. The two-day tournament will begin on Saturday, Dec. 16, in Rockville, Md.
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).
