Baltimore, MD, January 22, 2021 – It was a tale of two halves for The Monroe Express women's basketball team. Monroe-Bronx scored five of the final nine points in overtime with Sophomore Tariah Bryant's (Brooklyn, New York) three-pointer at 3:26 putting them ahead for good, in a dramatic come-from-behind victory over Howard Community College, 63-59, on Saturday evening at the Dragon Lair Gymnasium. The Express picked up their 13th victory, the second-most in a single season with their second straight victory, surpassing the program's win total from 2018-19, while the Dragons fall to 6-7 with the loss.

The Express held the Dragons to just four fourth-quarter points and 2-of-15 shooting (13.3%FG). After trailing by 12, 50-38 at the 9:21 mark of the fourth quarter Monroe-Bronx finished the remainder of the period on a 14-2 run, only allowing a go-ahead layup at 2:53 before freshman Nyeira Spady (New Rochelle, New York) went 1-for-2 at the line to tie it at 52. Both teams had four opportunities in the final 2:32 to retake the lead but could not convert, forcing the extra period.
 
Freshman Crystal Traverso (Bronx, New York) opened the scoring in overtime, going 1-for-2 from the free-throw line to give Monroe-Bronx a one-point lead, 53-52 at the 4:59 mark. The Express would not relinquish it after that outscoring Howard C.C. 11-7 overall in the extra session en route to a thrilling comeback victory.

The Express had three players in double figures for the third consecutive game, with Spady leading the charge with her team-leading fifth double-double on the season with a team-high 15 points and a career and game-best with 15 rebounds. Spade also tied another career and game-best with three blocks. Bryant and freshman Shashauna Ballantyne (Brooklyn, New York) chipped in with 14 and 13 points. Ballantyne was tremendous on defense for the Express snatched a game-high tied nine steals, and Crystal Traverso distributed a game-best seven assists. Traverso also contributed nine points and three steals.

Monroe-Bronx held Howard Community College to 29.4% shooting from the field (20-for-68) and 28% from three-point range (7-for-25) while forcing 37 turnovers and scoring 25 points off of them. In addition, the Express corralled 20 steals in the game for the sixth time this season.
 
The Express got off to a rough start shooting in the first half, going without a field goal in the first quarter and all two points coming on free throws Ballantyne (1-4 FT) and Mariame Gueye (1-2 FT). Monroe-Bronx got off to a better start in the second quarter recording eight of the first 12 points to cut the double-digit deficit down to seven, 17-10 on a Taina Maldonado (New York, New York) layup at 6:46. However, the Dragons provided a roaring response with a 16-2 run down the stretch to go into halftime up 33-12.
 
The Express turned the tide in this contest in the third quarter. Monroe-Bronx outscored Howard Community College 26-15, shooting 47.6% from the field (10-for-21) and 44.4% from 3-point range (4-9 3PT) while forcing 14 turnovers in the period and gobbling up nine steals. After a Kalani Corkeron layin gave Howard C.C. their biggest lead of the night, 23, 35-12 at 9:50, Monroe-Bronx would outscore them 26-13 the rest of the period to cut the deficit down to ten, 48-38 going into the final stanza.
 
The Express shot 33% from the field (5-for-15) in the fourth quarter and 80% from the field (4-for-5) in the extra session, forcing 12 turnovers and outrebounding the Dragons 16-12. 
 
For Howard Community College, Kori People led the Dragons in four different categories posting a double-double with a game-high 27 points and team-high 12 rebounds while snagging nine steals also tying a game-best. People also dished out a team-high six assists, and Quatazia Johnson Contributed 11 points while Kalani Corkeron turned away a team-high two shots.
 
The Express women's basketball team will look to sweep their Maryland road trip tomorrow on Sunday, January 23, against nationally-ranked #6 CCBC Essex at the CCBC Essex Wellness & Athletics Center in Baltimore, Maryland. 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).