BRONX – The nationally ranked No. 13 Monroe University – Bronx women's basketball team suffered its first Region 15 loss of the year to nationally ranked No. 8 Hostos Community College, 77-67, at The Swamp on Tuesday evening. 
 
The Express drop to 9-3 overall and 5-1 in the region, while the Caimans advance their perfect record to 8-0 for the season and 6-0 against regional opponents.
 
Monroe got off to a great start as a steal and then a layup from sophomore Tymere Moorer gave the visiting team an 11-4 advantage with 6:05 to go in the opening quarter. Later in the period, a pair of free throws from second-year player Tiffany Newsome made it a 15-9 advantage for the Express with 2:40 to go. However, Hostos finished the stanza with a 7-0 run to take a 16-15 edge after 10 minutes of play.
 
The Caimans came storming out of the gate in the second quarter as a jump shot by sophomore Daja White capped off a 16-2 overall run, dating back to the late stages of the first period, to inflate her team's lead to 26-17 less than three minutes into the second. The Express battled back later in the frame as a layup courtesy of freshman Salimah Williams capped off six straight Monroe points to narrow her team's deficit to 28-25. With less than a minute to go in the second, and Monroe down 35-31, Moorer capitalized on a layup attempt with 40 ticks left to shrink the Express' disadvantage to 35-33 and that was the score after 20 minutes of action. 
 
After falling behind by a score of 48-40 in the third, Monroe fought back as a 3-point field goal by freshman Amira McCleod capped off seven unanswered points to pull the Express to within one with 3:12 remaining. However, Hostos finished the stanza strong with a 9-1 run in the final 3:02 of the quarter to take a 57-48 benefit into the final period of regulation play.
 
Monroe fell behind by 15 in the fourth stanza and could not generate a consistent run to get back to within single digits. Hostos ended up claiming the contest, 77-67.
 
Sophomore Makira Bunsie had a strong game for the Express with 18 points, five rebounds, and two blocks. Moorer generated 15 points, a game-high seven steals, just as many rebounds, and four assists. Rookie Beverly Williams added 12 points, four boards, three steals, and two assists. Newsome provided seven points, eight rebounds, and three helpers. Sophomore Da'Mya Cheatham pulled down seven caroms, while classmate Davian Myers grabbed six rebounds and added two steals. Salimah Williams finished with six points, five steals, three assists, and two rebounds.
 
For the Caimans, White led all players with 28 points, while snatching eight rebounds, forcing six steals, and delivering four assists. Second-year player Jozai Vazquez had a strong game off the bench with eight points, 16 rebounds, two blocks, and just as many steals. Classmate Sandra Asamoah added 10 points, two assists, and a duo of steals. Sophomore Kiara Huggins netted 13 points, snatched five rebounds, provided four assists, and gathered two steals. 
 
Monroe – Bronx will host Bronx Community College in a Region 15 contest at Monsignor Scanlan Gym on Thursday evening. Tipoff is set for 6:00 p.m. 
 
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE UNIVERSITY
The athletic program at Monroe University 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 University 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.

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