NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – The nationally ranked No. 6 Monroe University – Bronx women's basketball team closed out the 2025-26 regular season with a hard-fought loss to NJCAA Division II Westchester Community College, 64-60, at Monroe Athletic Complex on Friday evening.

Monroe (24-6) trailed by 14 in the third quarter but stormed all the way back to pull to within two late in the fourth. Monroe had multiple chances to either tie or take the lead in the final minute, but Westchester (18-8) forced stops and then hit clutch free throws in the closing seconds to secure the win.

Leading the way for the Express was Aneyah McLamb who recorded her second straight double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds, while dishing out seven assists and forcing four steals. Beverly Williams notched 14 points, four rebounds, and five steals. Jaeda Kelly generated 12 points, four assists, three boards, and two steals. Salimah Williams compiled seven points, six helpers, and just as many caroms. 

The first half featured eight lead changes. In the early stages of the second quarter, Beverly Williams converted a layup to give her team an 18-15 edge with 8:21 left before the break. Westchester responded with a 7-2 run to jump out to a 22-20 benefit. Kelly got the Express back on track with a 3-point basket to put the Blue and Gold back in front by one with 2:54 remaining in the half. Dyshalah Johnson answered with a layup to put the Vikings ahead again by one. That began an 9-2 run by the visiting team that placed the Express in a 31-25 hole with 12 ticks left on the clock. Monroe was able to go into the locker room with some momentum as McLamb connected on a layup just before the buzzer to cut the Express' deficit to four.

In the early stages of the third quarter, Monroe chipped away as a layup by Kelly sliced Monroe's disadvantage to just 33-32 with 7:16 remaining. However, the Vikings took control of the game with a 17-4 run, capped by a layup from Johnson, to take a commanding 50-36 hold with 1:27 left in the period. McLamb got Monroe back into it with two consecutive buckets, including a putback just before time expired for her second straight buzzer-beating basket, to send Monroe into the final period of regulation play down by just 10.

The Express continued their momentum in the fourth as a triple courtesy of Jazmyne Rios shrunk the Blue and Gold's disadvantage to 50-44 with 8:56 to go. In the late stages of the fourth, Beverly Williams connected on two free throws to make it a five-point deficit for Monroe with 3:18 left on the clock. After McLamb forced a steal, she drove down the court, missed a shot but then grabbed her own rebound. She then fed Jazmyne Rios who executed a layup to shrink Westchester's lead to 60-57. 

McLamb struck again on defense with a block and Kelly secured the ball. She was then fouled and converted one of two free throw attempts to narrow her team's disadvantage to 60-58 with 2:42 to go. 

Johnson connected on a jumper from the other end to give Westchester more breathing room at 62-58. McLamb answered right back as her succesful jump shot with 59 ticks on the clock pulled Monroe to within two, at 62-60. 

Down to 25 seconds left to be played and Westchester having possession, Kelly swopped in and intercepted a pass attempt to give Monroe the ball back. The Express called a timeout. Coming out of the huddle, Salimah Williams shot the ball from the paint but missed. She grabbed her own rebound, and Monroe called a timeout with 16 seconds remaining. 

The Express had one more chance. McLamb shot the ball up with nine seconds to go but could not get it into the basket and Angelica Rios snatched the defensive rebound. She was fouled intentionally with eight seconds left. She drained both attempts from the charity stripe to make it a two-possession game at 64-60. The remaining seconds ticked off, and Westchester secured the win in the regular season finale for both teams.

Helping the Express during the evening was Jazmyne Rios who produced nine points and five rebounds. Sade Gibbs provided six points and three caroms. 

For the Vikings, Angelica Rios had a monster game with 14 points, 18 rebounds, and two blocks. Johnson scored 14 points and added five rebounds off the bench. Tiandra Martin generated 15 points, six assists, a trio of caroms, and just as many steals. Saniya Bell provided a double-double with 12 points and 11 boards.

Monroe – Bronx has earned the No. 1 seed and a bye into the semifinal round of the upcoming Region 15 Tournament. The semifinal contest will take place on the campus of Suffolk County Community College on Saturday, February 28. Time and opponent will be announced in the middle of this upcoming week.

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).