ROCHESTER, MN – Express women's basketball entered the NJCAA DIII National Championship tournament with the #4 seed and received a bye in the first round of play, due to their 24-7 regular season record (14-0 Region 15), winning the Region 15 championship and claiming the Northeast district title. Thursday evening, Monroe began their championship pursuit against the #5 seeded Minnesota West Blue Jays resulting in an 89-75 setback. With the loss, the fourth seeded Express will enter the consolation bracket and take on the Anoka-Ramsey Community College Golden Rams.

Following the Action

• Olivia Hyenga broke the scoring ice for the Blue Jays, but Sierra Jones immediately followed with a tough interior bucket to tie the game.
• Both squads would trade baskets for the next few minutes, until Nyeira Spady knocked down a transition 3-pointer to put the Express up by one.
• Express forward Janay Legagneur would run into foul trouble, picking up her second foul at the 6:38 mark of the first quarter, a tough blow for Monroe as the Blue Jays ended the first with a 16-3 run to put the count at 30-14.
• Trailing 42-18, Spady ended the Blue Jays run with a long range bomb to cut into the deficit. 
• Momentum began to shift and the Express began to come alive after Spady knocked down her second shot from downtown, trimming the lead to 21. 
• Ariella Johnson got into the mix, scoring three layups and serving a highlight worthy, fastbreak behind-the-back dime to Crystal Traverso, allowing Monroe to end the quarter on a 16-6 run, putting the score at 48-34 going into the halftime break.
• Continuing from her 12 point first half flurry, Johnson knocked down a short elbow jumper, followed with another score to trim the lead to 13, the closest the Express would get since the 2:03 mark of the first. Minnesota West would continue to match Monroe, jumping back out to a 21 point advantage.
• Re-entering the ball game since the opening moments of the second quarter, Legagneur got to work, with consecutive baskets, including an and-one jumper.
• In the waning moments of the third period, with the Express in the bonus, Taina Maldonado was fouled and knocked down two free throws to get under 20 points going into the fourth.
• With their backs against the wall, Monroe forced eleven Minnesota West turnovers, to trim the Blue Jays lead to nine points at the 3:25 mark. Aleah James and Johnson combined for 13 fourth quarter points in the effort.
• Ultimately, Minnesota West would not be denied, getting key stops down the stretch, settling the 89-75 final, advancing to the semifinal round with the victory.

Inside the Box Score

Ariella Johnson led the Express with 23 points, four assists, four assists and two steals. Spady followed with 14 points (4-of-7 3PT FG), seven rebounds, one block and one steal. Legagneur pitched in 13 points and three rebounds, while James added 12 points, a team-high 10 rebounds, six assists and four steals. Maldonado graded seven rebounds off the bench. 

With their victory, #4 Express will advance to the consolation bracket of the tournament, taking on the Anoka-Ramsey Community College Golden Rams and will take on Friday (Mar. 17) at 1 PM EST (12 PM CST).

ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 35 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 14 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).