ROCHESTER, N.Y., January 21, 2024 – A long bus ride and late arrival following Saturday's win was no problem for the Monroe College Mustangs women's basketball team, as the Mustangs defeated Monroe Community College Sunday afternoon by a score of 56-40. The Mustangs improve to 12-6 overall with their fifth straight win, while the Tribunes drop to 5-10.
It was all Mustangs in the first quarter of Sunday's matchup in Rochester. They opened the game on a 9-2 run, stretching the lead to 10 shortly after on a three by
Carlota Gomez-Alonso. The Tribunes got back within seven, but the Mustangs closed out the first with seven straight points to take a 20-6 advantage into the second.
Things turned around in the second quarter, as the Tribunes made a run to get back into the game. They opened the second with a 10-1 run to make it a five-point game with three minutes left in the half. The Mustangs responded with six straight, including another three by Gomez-Alonso, but the Tribunes netted the last four points of the half to make it a 27-20 lead for the Mustangs at the break.
The Mustangs needed some time, but they eventually found their rhythm again late in the third quarter. They used an 11-2 run to turn a five-point lead into a 14-point lead, with a Tribunes free throw in the final minute sending the game to the fourth with the Mustangs on top, 42-29.
The Tribunes scored the first six points of the fourth to cut the deficit to seven points. A three by Gomez-Alonso halted that run to make it a 10-point game again. The Mustangs extended their lead soon after with back-to-back layups by
Emma Wilson-Saltos and
Alycia Secchiaroli to make it a 49-37 edge with 4:43 to play. The Mustangs then kept the Tribunes off the board for the final 2:46 of the game, scoring seven points down the stretch to cap off the 16-point road victory.
Gomez-Alonso led the way for the Mustangs with 18 points on Sunday, adding eight rebounds and two assists. After her seven-game double-double streak came to an end on Saturday, Wilson-Saltos got right back on track with 12 points and 14 rebounds for her eighth in nine games and her 12th in just 18 games this season. She was one of three Mustangs to pull down double-digit rebounds on Sunday, as Secchiaroli came down with 11 while
Sharon Brown secured 10 boards in the win.
Nicole Bencosme filled the stat sheet with eight points, five assists, four rebounds and two steals.
Shanelle Smith added eight points as well.
Monroe's next game was scheduled to be played this Tuesday, Jan. 23, at SUNY Sullivan, but the game has been postponed to Feb. 13. The Mustangs will now play next on Thursday, Jan. 25, when they host Raritan Valley Community College at the Monroe Athletic Complex in a game that was originally scheduled for Jan. 9. Thursday's tip-off is set for 5:30 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).
