Cranford, NJ – In front a playoff-level atmosphere, the Monroe University women's basketball team earned a statement victory on Thursday evening, defeating previously unbeaten Division II No. 3 Union College, 83-80.
The Mustangs and Owls had to settle the back-and-forth battle across an extra five minutes of action, with the visitors outscoring the home team, 11-8, in the overtime period. Freshman
Kaylyn Lelie scored five, while sophomore
Qaizden Stephano chipped in four crucial points.
Back-to-back possessions capped off by Lelie layups put Monroe up 78-77. A pivotal lay-in from freshman
Ariel Walker made it a three-point game before Stephano put the upset-hungry Mustangs up two possessions.
Walker secured the rebound on Union's final possession and the Owls couldn't get a shot off after a missed free throw from the Mustangs with less than a second on the clock.
Lelie led the Mustangs with 20 points, while Stephano had 19 and 12. Freshman
Zanaya Parsons was all over the court, scoring 16 points, corralling seven rebounds and coming up with eight steals. The Mustangs shot 43.5% to Union's 29.5% mark.
Trailing 55-51 at the start of the fourth, Monroe rattled off a 17-4 run to start the period to take a convincing 68-60 lead. The ball was spread around during the run with no one player topping four points. The Mustangs went 9-for-11 from the
line during the run.
Union made a bit of a run at the lead, but Stephano silenced the Owls with crucial points in the paint. Free throws got the Owls back into the game as they tied it up at 72 before Monroe buckled up for an inspired overtime effort.
When it mattered most, the Mustangs put together impressive defensive possessions and came up with clutch buckets down the stretch. They will look to ride this momentum into Monday's matchup at Raritan Valley Community College.
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE UNIVERSITY
The athletic program at Monroe University encompasses a total of 28 teams competing across nine sports. There are 20 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well as the Monroe University 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.MonroeUMustangs.com or follow us on social media: Facebook (
Monroe Mustangs Athletics), Twitter (
@MonroeMustangs) and Instagram (
@monroemustangs).
