NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – In a battle of top five teams in NJCAA Division III, the fifth-ranked Monroe University – Bronx women's basketball team earned a thrilling victory over No. 4 Community College of Rhode Island, 57-54, at Monroe Athletic Complex on Thursday evening.

Monroe hands Rhode Island its first loss of the season after the Knights won their first 11 contests. The Express advance to 15-1 and remain undefeated against NJCAA Division III teams this year. 

It did not come easy as Monroe – Bronx trailed by nine in the opening minute of the second half but stormed back to earn the signature victory. 

"This was a huge win for us," Express Head Coach Damel Ling said. "The bigger thing is that it's always great competition to play against Rhode Island."

Monroe got off to a fast start, jumping out to a 12-0 advantage just 2:19 in. Beverly Williams opened the scoring with back-to-back 3-point baskets which began the run. 

The Knights battled back with an 11-2 run to cut Monroe's lead to just three with 1:09 left in the opening stanza.

The Express finished the quarter strong as back-to-back buckets by Aneyah McLamb extended the home team's vantage to 18-11 and that was the score after 10 minutes of play.

Monroe was in a cold spell for the majority of the second quarter as the Knights scored 12 unanswered points to catapult to a 23-18 benefit with 5:04 remaining until the break. The Express finally scored their first points of the frame as a successful jump shot by McLeod with 4:48 to go pulled her team to within three. The basket ended Monroe's 6:21 scoring drought.

Rhode Island finished the half strong with an 8-5 run to put Monroe – Bronx in a 31-25 hole at the intermission. 

CCRI opened the scoring in the third quarter as a 3-point basket by Natalyah Williams, just 21 seconds in, gave the Knights their largest lead of the game at 34-25. 

The turning point of the game occurred when Rhode Island committed a technical foul with 9:07 to go in the third. Beverly Williams drained a free throw to narrow the deficit to eight. The Express were awarded the possession after the 1-for-2 shooting from the line off the technical. On that possession, Jaeda Kelly drew a foul and went 1-for-2 from the charity stripe to narrow Rhode Island's lead to 34-27.

Those two free throws gave the Express momentum, and they started executing on both sides of the ball. Monroe forced six turnovers which allowed the Blue and Gold to complete a 12-0 run, capped by a layup from Kelly, to propel the Express to a 37-34 benefit with 5:24 left in the stanza.

Monroe eventually built a 41-37 edge, but Rhode Island scored the next five points, concluded by a successful shot from downtown by Qiana Sumna, to put the Knights ahead 42-41 with 2:33 to go.

The Express answered back as Salimah Williams found Lea Tavarez who drained a triple to put Monroe back in front, 44-42, with 1:43 remaining in the third. Monroe took a 47-44 lead to final period of regulation.

Rhode Island was poised for a comeback as the visiting team narrowed the Express' advantage to 50-48 with 6:42 remaining. Fortunately for Monroe, Jazmyne Rios launched a key 3-point basket that gave the Express a 53-48 advantage with 6:03 to go. The Blue and Gold managed to increase the lead to seven on a couple of occasions, including a 57-50 hold with 1:42 remaining, to knock the wind out of the Knights' sails.  

Natalyah Williams converted a 3-point basket for Rhode Island with 1.7 seconds left to narrow its deficit to 57-54 but it was too little too late as the inbound pass was delivered to Beverly Williams who escaped being intentionally fouled and dribbled until the final buzzer went off to clinch the statement victory for Monroe.

For the Express, McLamb generated a game-high 19 points and eight steals, while grabbing six rebounds, delivering three assists, and blocking a trio of shots. Beverly Williams tallied 13 points, five boards, just as many steals, and three assists. Rios added eight points and eight caroms. Salimah Williams produced five rebounds, just as many assists, and four steals. Kelly snatched six boards.

For the Knights, Natalyah Williams produced a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while adding five steals. Sumner recorded 11 points and six caroms.

Monroe – Bronx will travel to Central New York this weekend. The Express will open the trip on Saturday with a game against Mohawk Valley Community College. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. 

"Looking forward to a huge weekend coming up," Ling said.

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, 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).