THROGGS NECK, N.Y. – The nationally ranked No. 11 Monroe College - Bronx women's basketball team opened Region 15 play with a thrilling come-from-behind victory over Queensborough Community College, 86-78, at Monsignor Scanlan Gymnasium on Thursday, November 9. 
 
The Express (1-1, 1-0 Region 15) got off to a slow start, falling behind by 15 (21-6) after 10 minutes of play. Monroe came back to dominate the second quarter, 24-11, to pull to within two at the half, and then outscored the Tigers (0-3, 0-2 Region 15) by a score of 27-21 to jump out to a four-point lead after 30 minutes. After the score was tied at the end of regulation, Monroe – Bronx dominated the overtime period, 15-7, to earn the regional-opening win.
 
Leading the way for the Express was freshman guard Daysiah Smith who netted 25 points, dished out nine assists, grabbed six rebounds, and forced three steals. Sophomore forward Kristina Poitier-Wells generated a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds, while blocking three shots. 
 
Freshman guard Tymere Moorer brought energy off the bench for the Express by netting 16 points, forcing a game-high eight steals, and snatching two boards. Rookie guard Jah Gunter provided 10 points, clutched four rebounds, and collected a trio of steals. First-year guard Davian Myers brought down a team-high 11 boards, nailed six points, and added five steals.
 
Monroe – Bronx had a sluggish first quarter as a pair of free throws by freshman forward Nasira Short gave Queensborough a commanding 21-6 hold with less than a minute to go in the period and that would end up being the score after one.
 
Things turned around drastically for the Express in period two as Myers converted a layup to cap off an 11-4 run to pull her team to within eight, at 25-17, 3:22 into the stanza. Later in the quarter, the Express inched closer but Short drained a triple for the Tigers to extend its lead to 30-23 with 2:28 left to go before the half. 
 
From that point on in the first half, the Express locked down on defense and held the opposition to just two points for the remainder of the stanza. The Blue and Gold exploded on offense with seven points during that stretch, highlighted by back-to-back two-point shots from Gunter. Both teams entered the intermission with the Express trailing by just two.
 
Monroe fell behind by six in the early stages of the third quarter, but a layup and then a triple courtesy of Poitier-Wells shrunk the Tigers' lead to 38-37. Queensborough eventually built its lead back up to six, at 45-39, with 6:15 to go in the frame. 
 
Then, a key stretch of the game took place as Monroe – Bronx scored nine unanswered points, capped of by a 3-point shot by freshman guard Angeleny Cobos, that gave the Express their first lead of the evening and then capped off by a jump shot from Moorer that put the home team up, 48-45, with 3:26 left to play in the stanza.
 
With 17 second remaining in the third, Poitier-Wells drained a triple to extend Monroe's benefit to 57-51. The Express ended up taking a 57-53 advantage into the final quarter of regulation play. 
 
Queensborough came storming out of the gate in the fourth, as a 12-4 blitz gave the visiting team a 65-61 benefit with just 5:41 left to play. The Express were able to recover as a layup by Smith and then a free throw from Gunter concluded a 6-1 run that allowed the Blue and Gold to regain the lead at 67-66 with 3:39 to go. 
 
Fast forward to just over two minutes remaining and the game is knotted up at 69. Queensborough's defense forces a turnover and then Short successfully executes a layup to give the Tigers a 71-69 advantage with 2:04 to go. Both teams struggled to score since that point.
 
In fact, with 42 ticks left on the clock, Queensborough was able to get the ball back with a two-point lead. Moorer came up big for the Express by forcing a steal and then Smith took the ball and converted a layup in the paint with 26 seconds left to tie the game at 71 points apiece.
 
It was Smith's turn to make a clutch defensive play for the Express as she stole the ball away two seconds after the game-tying basket. The Express had a chance to win the contest but could not convert the game-winning shot. The buzzer sounded and overtime was needed. 
 
It was all Monroe in the extra period as a layup by Moorer not only gave the Express a 73-71 benefit, but it sparked a 6-1 run for the Blue and Gold, capped off by Poitier-Wells' successful jump shot, to give the home team a 77-72 hold with 2:21 to go. 
 
A pair of free throws by Queensborough on the next possession made it a one-score battle. The Tigers even got the ball back with a chance to inch closer or even tie the game. However, Moorer forced a steal and the converted a fast-break layup to give the Express more breathing room, inflating their lead to 79-74, with 2:01 left to play in the overtime period. 
 
Queensborough could not get to within striking distance for the remainder of the contest. With 20 seconds remaining, Smith was intentionally fouled and then she iced the game with a pair of free throws to inflate Monroe's lead to 86-78. That would end up being the final score as the Express earned the come-from-behind Region 15 victory in overtime.
 
For the Tigers, Short scored a game-high 28 points, forced eight steals, and had six rebounds.
 
Monroe – Bronx will have a non-regional contest on Saturday, November 11, when the Express will take on Union College. Tipoff at Union College Gymnasium is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. 
 
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 31 teams competing across nine sports. There are 21 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 and men's volleyball programs, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus, has seven 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/X (@MonroeExpress), Instagram (@MonroeExpress), and Threads (@MonroeExpress).