New Rochelle, N.Y., December, 7 2021 – Freshman Nyeira Spady (New Rochelle, New York) put up a career-high 24 points in the Express's 79-55 home victory over Springfield Technical Community College on Tuesday night at the Monroe Athletic Complex. Monroe-Bronx remains undefeated at 9-0 with the victory, while Springfield Tech falls to 4-5 with the loss.
Freshman Tariah Bryant (Brooklyn, New York) scored eight points, grabbed a game-high tied eight rebounds, and snatched a game-best seven steals while tying for a game-high three assists. First-year student Crystal Traverso (Bronx, New York) registered seven points and tied a game-best with three assists, while classmate Magnama Traore (Conakry, Guinea) hauled down a game-best tied eight rebounds.
The Express dominated the scoring in the paint 40-18 and got scoring from all 13 players that entered the game with a major contribution from their bench with 31 of Monroe-Bronx's 79 points while scoring 28 points off of 28 Ram turnovers on the evening. Monroe-Bronx also outrebounded Springfield Tech 46-40 on the evening.
The Express started fast in the first quarter recording the game's first eight points before the Rams rang up seven of the following nine points to cut the deficit to 10-7 on a Lakoda Jim jumper at 4:10. Monroe-Bronx used a 9-2 run capped off by a Traverso three-pointer at 2:29 to increase the lead to double digits for the first time, 10, 19-9, and with 34 seconds to go, 11, 24-13 on a Ramatoulaye Diallo (Brooklyn, New York) three-pointer to end the quarter.
The Express carried that momentum into the second quarter, putting together a 10-4 run to stretch their lead to its largest of the first half, 17, 34-17 on a Bryant fastbreak layup at 5:50. Monroe-Bronx kept their lead in double digits for the rest of the second quarter, going into halftime up 41-26.
The second half was more of the same, with Springfield Tech getting with 13, 47-34 at 7:00 on a pair of Lakota Jim free-throws before the Express put together an 11-4 run to get the lead to 20 points for the first time of the night, 58-38 at 2:05 on Bryant jumper. Monroe-Bronx closed out the quarter on an 8-2 run to 66-40 after three.
The Express built the lead to its biggest evening, 28, 68-40 early in the fourth quarter on a Diallo jumper at 9:20, and coasted the rest of the period to a 79-55 win to remain undefeated.
For Springfield Technical Community College, three players finished the evening in double figures, with Zoey Natonabah leading the way with 16 points. Lakoda Jim and Essence Richardson chipped in with 11 points and 10 points, respectively, with Richardson corralling a game-high tied eight rebounds and Nyla Rodriquez notching a team-high two steals.
The Express will put their undefeated 9-0 record to the test on Friday, December 10, against NJCAA Division II nationally-ranked No. 8 CCBC-Essex at 6 p.m. at the Monroe Athletic Complex. For more information, visit the Monroe Express Women's Basketball 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).
