BRONX, N.Y. (November 9, 2021) – After defeating their first nationally-ranked opponent in school history last week, the Monroe College Express women's basketball team put on a dazzling display pleasing a raucous home crowd at the Monroe Athletic Complex with a convincing 66-53 victory over Essex County College on Tuesday evening in their home opener. The Express improved to 2-0 for the first time since the 2017-18 season, while the Wolverines fell to 0-1.

The Express had four players finish in double figures and one post a double-double on the night. Freshman Tariah Bryant (Brooklyn, New York) spearheaded the offense with a game-best tied 15 points while snatching seven steals and dishing out five assists also game-highs. Freshman Nyeira Spady (New Rochelle, New York) put up her first career double-double of the season with a game-best 12 rebounds and recorded 10 points. Spady also turned away three shots, a game-high, while Zyane Rowe Ramirez (Brooklyn, New York ) and Taina Maldonado (New York, New York) contributed with 14 and 11 points off the bench. Bryant and Maria Negron (Bronx, New York) both corralled seven rebounds apiece, and Shashauna Ballantyne (Brooklyn, New York) distributed three assists.

Monroe-Bronx got an excellent contribution with 29 bench points while controlling the rebounding advantage 51-47 and forcing 25 turnovers. The Express also dominated the paint, outscoring the Wolverines 34-24, and stifled Essex County College defensively, holding them to a 25.8% field goal percentage (17-66 FG). 

After the Express recorded the first four points of the game - Bryant layup and Crystal Traverso (Bronx, New York) 2-2 FT - Essex County College would go on a 7-0 run to take the lead 5-4 on a Jakira Coar three-pointer at the 4:52 mark and extend it to 7-4 on a Salama Abouekheir layup at 4:29. Monroe-Bronx recorded five of the following six points - Maldonado layup at 3:51 and Bryant three-pointer at 3:16 - to retake the lead 9-7 then used an 11-4 run to close out the first quarter leading 15-11.

The Wolverines got off to a strong start in the second quarter ringing up six of the first ten points with a Chloe Cassidy three-pointer at 7:53, cutting the Express lead to two, 19-17. However, the Express would control the narrative for the rest of the first half outscoring their opponent 17-8 to go into halftime with a 36-25 advantage.

The Express kept the lead in double digits at 10, 53-43 after three quarters before Essex County College got within six, 53-46, on a Salama Abouekheir free throw at 7:31. Monroe-Bronx pulled away using an 11-0 run capped off by a Ramirez layup at 5:25 to build the lead to 18, their largest of the night, 64-46, and handled the Wolverines the rest of the way for the 66-53 victory.

The Wolverines had four players in double figures and two recorded double-doubles. Chloe Cassidy led the offense with a game-high with 15 points, snatched a team-best two steals, and tied another with two assists, while Salama Abouelkheir put up 13 points and 10 boards, and Jakira Coar grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds and scored 11 points. Mia Martinez had 11 points and dished out a team-best tied two assists on the night.

The Express will look for their first 3-0 start since the 2017-18 season on the road Saturday, November 13 against No. 8 University Of Connecticut At Avery Point at 3 p.m in Groten, Connecticut. 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).