NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., January 6, 2024 – In a low-scoring, defensive showdown at the Monroe Athletic Complex, the Monroe College Mustangs women's basketball team dropped a 44-40 final to Howard Community College on Saturday in the team's first matchup of the Monroe College Men's and Women's Mixer. Monroe drops to 7-6 overall with the loss, while the Dragons improve to 8-3.
The Mustangs controlled both sides of the court for the first five minutes of the game, keeping the Dragons off the board while accumulating a 9-0 lead, capped off by a three-pointer from
Shanelle Smith. The Dragons then scored five straight to chip away at the deficit, but the Mustangs recovered with the next four to go back up by eight. A quiet quarter saw Howard's Jaylah Putman hit a three with 40 seconds left, sending the game to the second with Monroe on top, 13-8.
The Mustangs opened the second with three points from free throws, but the Dragons quickly scored three right back. The teams went on to trade baskets until the Dragons scored the final seven points of the quarter while keeping the Mustangs scoreless for the final 5:26 of the half, giving Howard a 23-22 advantage at the break.
Emma Wilson-Saltos was already nearing a double-double in the first half with six points and eight rebounds. Smith added five points with a pair of steals.
Nicole Bencosme contributed four points with a team-high three assists.
The defensive battle continued in the third quarter of Saturday's matchup. Howard held a 28-27 lead midway through the third before a Bencosme free throw tied the game. The Dragons then scored four straight before a jumper by Bencosme kept Monroe within two. Three free throws in the final minute of the period had Howard up by five, but a layup at the buzzer by Wilson-Saltos made it a 35-32 lead for Howard heading to the fourth.
Carlota Gomez-Alonso opened the fourth with a layup to get Monroe within a point, but both teams went quiet for three minutes after that. Asaani Offer ended the drought for Howard with a jumper, and then Putman hit another layup a minute later to make it a five-point lead for the visitors. Gomez-Alonso got to the line and made 1-of-2 to make it a four-point deficit, but Sydnei Harmon hit a layup to push the lead to six with 2:42 to go.
Gomez-Alonso once again got fouled and made one of her two chances to keep Monroe within five. Later in the fourth, Wilson-Saltos hit a layup to make it a four-point game, and
Sharon Brown later went to the line and made one of her chances to bring Monroe within three. Madison Carey then went to the charity stripe for Howard and made both shots to push the lead to five with 29 seconds left. The Mustangs managed just one more point on another free throw by Brown, falling to the Dragons by four.
Wilson-Saltos completed the double-double with 13 points and 14 rebounds, adding four steals as well in a solid game. Gomez-Alonso was next for Monroe with eight points while pulling down 13 boards off the bench. Bencosme and Smith each finished with seven points apiece.
The Mustangs will look to bounce back tomorrow, Jan. 7, when they close out the Monroe Mixer against Nassau Community College. Sunday's tip-off is set for 6 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).
