NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., February 16, 2023 – The Monroe College Mustangs women's basketball team turned in a dominant performance on Thursday, defeating Raritan Valley Community College by a score of 65-35 at the Monroe Athletic Complex. The Mustangs improve to 16-13 overall with the win, while the Lions drop to 10-18.
The Mustangs got off to a strong start, opening the game with its first five points, and shortly after taking an 8-1 lead on the Lions. After a layup by the Lions, Monroe scored four straight for a nine-point advantage. The teams then traded baskets over the final four minutes of the period, with
Carlota Gomez-Alonso making the last bucket with four seconds left to head to the second with Monroe on top, 16-7.
The Mustangs scored five straight to open the second quarter to go up by 14 points. Neither team scored after that for nearly five minutes until Raritan Valley's Kerine Thomas made a three. Thomas later made 1-of-2 from the line to cut the deficit to 10, but the Mustangs then got a three-point play from
Sara Carvajal-Caro. Thomas made two more free throws down the stretch, but
Amiyah Edney-Holmes closed out the half with a layup to take a 26-13 lead into the break.
Edney-Holmes led the Mustangs with seven points at the half.
Emma Wilson-Saltos totaled five points with seven rebounds. Carvajal-Caro and Gomez-Alonso each had five points as well.
Monroe opened the third quarter on a 7-3 run to push the lead to 33-16. After another three by the Lions, the Mustangs got five straight points by
Tanae Arnold, then another three to take a 41-19 advantage. The Lions tallied the next four, but
Khalia Bryant made back-to-back threes in the final minute to send the game to the fourth with Monroe ahead, 47-23.
The Mustangs scored seven of the first eight points of the fourth to take a 54-24 advantage on the Lions. Raritan then got to the line numerous times, producing a 7-2 run, but the Mustangs scored the next six to push the lead to 31. After three free throws by the Lions, Edney-Holmes hit a layup, and then Gomez-Alonso made 1-of-2 from the line. Raritan Valley's Emily Norgard added one last free throw in the final minute, but the Mustangs managed to keep a 30-point lead through the final buzzer.
Wilson-Saltos produced a big double-double with 16 points and 15 boards, adding two blocks as well. Edney-Holmes totaled 13 points with three assists. Gomez-Alonso tallied nine points with seven rebounds and three steals. Bryant contributed eight points, eight rebounds and seven steals.
The Mustangs will be back at the MAC for Sophomore Day on Saturday, Feb. 18. They will host NJCAA Div. II No. 7 Harcum College for a 1 p.m. tip-off.
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 35 teams competing across nine sports. There are 21 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well 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 11 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).
