NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., March 16, 2024 – The Monroe College Mustangs women's basketball team is heading to its third straight NJCAA Div. I Women's Basketball Championship, as the Mustangs claimed the Mid-Atlantic District Championship on Saturday with a 64-46 victory over Region 10 Champion Spartanburg Methodist College at the Monroe Athletic Complex. The Mustangs earned the Mid-Atlantic District's automatic berth for the NJCAA Championship in Casper, Wyo.
The Mustangs are officially one of 24 teams that will qualify for the 2024 NJCAA Div. I Women's Basketball Championship in Casper, Wyo. The NJCAA will reveal the full tournament bracket on Sunday, March 17, with the NJCAA Div. I Women's Basketball Selection Show at 8 p.m. on the NJCAA Network.
The Mustangs got off to a strong start in Saturday's championship game, running out to a 10-4 advantage over the Pioneers. Spartanburg Methodist then closed the gap with an 8-2 run, tying the game at 12-12 before a late layup by Aziyah Bell left the Pioneers up, 14-12, heading to the second quarter.
The Mustangs scored the first four points of the second to take a 16-14 lead. A three by Layla Wall put the Pioneers back on top, but the Mustangs picked up the next three points to go back up. With 3:37 left in the half, Wall hit a jumper to give Spartanburg Methodist a 21-19 edge.
Alycia Secchiaroli then drained a three to put Monroe back on top with 1:35 left until the break.
Carlota Gomez-Alonso then scored on a fast break off a steal to go up by three. Gomez-Alonso sank a three with 43 seconds left to make it a six-point game, but Grace Ikenegbu scored the final two of the half for the Pioneers, leaving Monroe on top, 27-23, at halftime.
Gomez-Alonso led all scorers with nine points through the first 20 minutes, adding five rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Emma Wilson-Saltos tallied six points with two blocks and a steal.
Sharon Brown led the Mustangs with six rebounds at the break, adding a pair of takeaways as well.
Nicole Bencosme contributed five points and two assists.
After Zy'Breayziah Alexander scored the first bucket of the second half for the Pioneers, the Mustangs took control of the game, scoring 11 straight points, capped off by a three from Gomez-Alonso that gave the Mustangs a 38-25 advantage. In the final minute, a jumper by Ikenegbu got the Pioneers back within 10, but Wilson-Saltos hit a layup with 12 seconds left to send the game to the fourth with Monroe up, 44-32.
Yasmine Cook opened the fourth with a three for the Pioneers to make it a nine-point game. The Mustangs then scored the next five points to go back up by 14. Another three by Wall made it an 11-point game with 6:06 to play, but that was as close as the Pioneers got the rest of the way. In the final two minutes, the Mustangs went on an 8-2 run, closing out the game with an 18-point advantage to send themselves to the NJCAA Championship.
Gomez-Alonso and Wilson-Saltos both completed double-doubles in the win. Gomez-Alonso led the team with 20 points, adding 10 rebounds, four assists and three steals. Wilson-Saltos totaled 17 points with a team-high 15 rebounds to go with three blocks and a steal.
Shanelle Smith contributed 12 points and five boards. Bencosme finished with eight points and three assists. Secchiaroli added seven points, five rebounds and three assists. Brown finished with 10 boards and three steals.
The Mustangs will now await their fate in tomorrow's Selection Show at 8 p.m. Fans can watch from home on the
NJCAA Network, while students on campus are welcome to join the team in the Gaddy Cafeteria for a watch party presented by Monroe College Student Activities.
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 (
@MonroeMustangs) and Instagram (
@monroemustangs).
