Edison, N.J., November 6, 2021 – The performance was well worth the wait for the Monroe Express women's basketball team. After returning to NJCAA competition for the first time in 615 days, the Express used a suffocating defensive effort to begin the 2021-22 campaign with a bang upsetting No. 12 Middlesex County College, 55-41, in their season opener on the Road in Edison, New Jersey Friday evening.
Monroe-Bronx defeated a ranked opponent for the first time in school history after going winless in their previous 14 contests. The Express put up a dominant defensive effort holding the Colts to 25% from the field (14-56 FG) while outrebounding them 36-32 and forcing 27 turnovers, and recording 21 steals with 18 points coming off turnovers.
Freshman Zyane Rowe Ramirez (Brooklyn, New York) led the offensive charge dropping a game-high 17 points and a team-best five three-pointers, with three of them coming in the first quarter while also recording a game-best five assists and recording four steals. Classmate Tariah Bryant (Brooklyn, New York) chipped in with 12 points of her own and snatched a team-best tied five steals. Fellow underclassmen Nyeira Spady (New Rochelle, New York) and Magnama Traore (Conakry, Guinea) dominated the glass, with Spady hauling down a game-best 14 rebounds and Traore grabbing 12 rebounds.
The Monroe Express got out of the gate early, jumping out to an 8-0 lead with Ramirez recording the first eight points of the night - two three-pointers and two-pointer - before building their lead to a quarter high 12 twice, 16-4 and 18-4, and closing out the first quarter with an 18-8 advantage.
Middlesex County College provided a strong response in the second quarter holding the Express to just eight points, and erased a 26-17 deficit with a 7-0 run to close out the first half and get within two 26-24 going into halftime.
The Express took control of the game in the third quarter. After a Colt layup at the 7:49 mark, Monroe-Bronx would outscore Middlesex County College 13-6 down the stretch to take a 41-32 lead into the fourth quarter. The Express put the exclamation point on a historic night opening the final quarter on an 11-0 run and never looking back en route to the 55-41 upset.
For the Colts, Sophomore Olivia Tirso led all scorers with 13 points, while classmate Kameron de Voogd contributed 12 points on the evening. Her younger sister Skylar de Voogd brought down a team-high seven rebounds in the contest.
Monroe-Bronx will look to start 2-0 for the first time since the program's inaugural 2017-18 season when they host Essex County College in their home opener Tuesday night, November 9, at the Monroe Athletic Complex at 8 p.m. For more information, please visit the Monroe Express Women's Schedule Page.
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 36 teams competing across nine sports. There are 19 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well as club men's and women's rugby, the Monroe College marching band, and the newly added esports program, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus, has 17 teams competing at the NJCAA Division III level.
For more information about the Monroe Express, please visit us at www.MonroeExpress.com or follow us on social media: Facebook (Monroe Express), Twitter (@MonroeExpress), and Instagram (@MonroeExpress).
