LINCROFT, N.J. – The nationally ranked No. 8 Monroe University – Bronx women's basketball team opened the 2026-27 season by splitting a pair of games at the Brookdale Community College Classic this past weekend.
Monroe dropped the first game to NJCAA Division II Middlesex College, 69-46, on Saturday. The next day, the Blue and Gold bounced back to defeat Hudson County Community College, 53-35. Both games took place at Robert J. Collins Arena.
In the game against Middlesex (1-0),
Winter Smith finished with 17 points, five rebounds, just as many assists, and three steals.
Jazmyne Rios had seven points, just as many boards, and two steals.
Khaliyah Harley had a solid collegiate debut with five points, four rebounds, and three blocks.
In the win over Hudson Valley (0-2), Monroe struggled during the first three quarters, even falling behind by a score of 26-24 with 3:48 remaining in the third stanza.
The Express fought back as a 3-point field goal by
Aviah Richards and a jumper by
Jaeda Kelly helped the Blue and Gold finish the quarter on a 7-3 run to take a 31-29 edge heading into the final period of regulation play.
Monroe (1-1) took off in the fourth as a tip-in by Harley extended the Express' lead to 37-29. Rios took over for Monroe as she drained three straight field goals, including a 3-pointer, to inflate the Express' cushion to 47-31 with 2:50 left in regulation. Monroe ended up outscoring the Hornets in the fourth quarter, 22-6, on its way to the come-from-behind win.
"We played hard but hurt ourselves a lot on the offensive end of the floor by not finishing," Express Head Coach
Damel Ling said. "We will have to grind out wins on defense until we find some consistency offensively.
Winter Smith,
Jhency Pabon,
Jaeda Kelly, Jazzy (Jazmyne) Rios and AJ (Aviah) Richards provided leadership and made winning plays that helped us secure the win."
Rios finished with 12 points, nine steals, seven rebounds, and two assists. Smith had six points, four helpers, and just as many steals. Harley compiled nine points, six boards, and three more blocks off the bench. Pabon scored eight points, including two key shots from downtown. Richards generated seven points, five rebounds, and a trio of steals. Kelly notched six points, six caroms, four steals, and two helpers.
As a team, Monroe's strong defensive pressure forced 32 steals and made Hudson County commit 48 turnovers.
The Express will open Region 15 play on Thursday evening at Queensborough Community College. Tipoff at RFK Gymnasium will be at 5:30 p.m.
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