New Rochelle, N.Y., December 2, 2021 – On Thursday evening, the Monroe Express JV women's basketball team dropped a back and forth duel to Westchester Community College, 68-61, at home at the Monroe Athletic Complex. The Express fall to 1-2 on the season in defeat, while the Vikings improve to 3-3 with the victory.

The Express had three players in double figures, and two put up double-doubles in the contest. Freshman Magan Jackson (Bronx, New York) posted her team-leading second double-double of the season with a team-high 17 points and hauled down a game-high 14 boards, while classmate Kryshana Levy (Bronx, N.Y.) had 14 points and 11 rebounds. Jackson also distributed a team-best three assists, and fellow first-year students Edenisse Jimenez (Manhattan, New York) contributed 11 points, and Aiyana Carter (Brooklyn, New York) grabbed 10 rebounds. Jimenez, Carter, and Levy all tied a team-best with two steals. 

The matchup was competitive with 10 lead changes and seven ties, providing a pendulum of momentum between both teams. Monroe-Bronx dominated the glass, outrebounding the Vikings 55-34 and having an advantage in the paint 48-36.

Westchester Community College got off to a quick start in the first quarter registering five of the game's first seven points, then Monroe-Bronx responded with a 6-0 run to take their first lead, 8-5 at 5:53 on Levy layup. Donjeta Prelvukaj hit back to back three-pointers to tie it at eight at 5:23 and give the Vikings the lead back 11-8 at 4:13 then the Express registered six of the following seven points with four of them coming from Jackson to tie it at 12 at 2:41 on a jumper and retake the lead 14-12 at 2:13 on a layup. Adrianna McFadden would go 1-for-2 at the line to give Westchester Community College scored the last three points to lead 15-14 to close the period.

After a Kylee Taxiera layup at 9:48 to make it 17-14, the Express responded with five of the following seven points, three of them coming from Sophia Gonzalez - 1-for-2 at the line and a layup - to tie it at 17 at 9:00 and 19 at 8:35. The Vikings recorded two straight buckets by Adrianna McFadden and Mikaelyn Hannon to make it 23-19, then the Express took over the rest of the second quarter using a 6-0 run to retake the lead 25-23, on a Marks layup at 4:47 and would not let it up going into halftime with a 35-30 advantage.

The Express continued to build off their momentum to close out the first half with a solid start to the third quarter to record eight of the first 11 points to build their lead to the largest of the night by 10, 43-33, on a

Jimenez layup at the 7:23 mark. The Vikings took control of the quarter from there, outscoring the Express 19-5 down the stretch going back in front 48-45 on an Ireanna Olivio layin at 2:37, and went into the final stanza up 52-48.

The Express made one more final push in the fourth quarter using an 11-4 run to get back the lead by one, 59-58, on a Jimenez three-pointer at 4:49 before the Vikings closed out the game on a 10-2 run to get the victory 68-61.

For Westchester Community College, three players finished the evening in double figures. Donjeta Prelvukaj put up a double-double, registering a game-high 21 points and grabbing 12 rebounds while dishing out four assists swatting three shots, also game-bests. Adriana McFadden had 19 points and a game-high four steals. Kylee Taxiera chipped in with 10 points.

The Monroe Express JV women's basketball team travels to Ocean County College Sunday, December 4 at Noon. For more information, visit the Monroe Express JV Women's Basketball 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).