VALHALLA, N.Y. – The nationally ranked No. 6 Monroe University – Bronx women's basketball team was narrowly edged by NJCAA Division II Westchester Community College, 50-48, at Viking Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon. The Express drop to 22-5 overall, while the Vikings advance to 14-8.

It was a close game throughout as neither team had a lead higher than six. The contest came down to the final play as Monroe had the ball down 50-48 with six seconds left on the clock, with a chance to tie or win the game. Unfortunately for the Express, they committed a turnover with one tick left on the clock and the Vikings were able to drain the last second to clinch the victory.

Leading the way for the Express during the contest was Beverly Williams who provided 18 points, four rebounds, and three steals. Aneyah McLamb connected with 16 points, seven boards, a trio of steals, and a pair of assists. Salimah Williams snatched 10 caroms and forced four steals.

Monroe got off to a strong start to the game as McLamb converted a layup to give her team a 13-10 lead with 3:07 to go in the opening period. The Vikings responded with eight unanswered points to snatch an 18-13 benefit with 12 ticks left. The Express finished the stanza strong as Beverly Williams drained her fourth 3-point basket of the frame (with one second left) to narrow the Express' deficit to 18-16 heading into the second stanza.

The Blue and Gold fell behind, 28-24, in the second quarter but rallied with seven unanswered points, beginning with a 3-point shot by Jaeda Kelly and capped by a pair of free throws from Beverly Williams, to give Monroe a 31-28 benefit with 10 ticks left before the break. Westchester closed out the scoring for the half as Saniya Bell drained a pair of free throws to narrow the Express' advantage to 31-30 with five seconds left and that ended up being the score at the intermission.

The Vikings came storming out of the gate in the beginning of the second half, scoring the first six points to take a 36-31 hold just 2:28 in. McLamb got the Express back on track with back-to-back layups to pull Monroe to within one. 

Westchester snatched the momentum back with five straight points, concluded by a 3-point dagger by Daveya Rodriguez, to put Monroe in a 41-35 hole with 5:47 left in the third. The Express countered with a 5-0 run of their own, capped off by a successful shot from downtown courtesy of Lea Tavarez, to pull the Blue and Gold to within a 41-40 deficit with 3:32 to go in the third. That ended up being the last field goal by either team for the period.

Monroe trailed 42-40 until Jazmyne Rios was fouled with one second left in the frame. She buried both her opportunities from the charity stripe to even the game at 42 points apiece and that was the score heading into the final period of regulation play. 

The Express struck first 1:42 into the fourth as Beverly Williams connected on two free throws to put her team in front, 44-42. Westchester answered with 6:50 to go as a layup by Dyshalah Johnson marked the first field goal made by either team in 10:22 of game time and a tie game at 44. After Monroe fell behind by one, McLamb provided a layup for the Express to propel them to a 46-45 edge with 4:31 remaining in regulation. It marked Monroe's first field goal made in 12:41 of game action. 

Westchester answered as a putback by Rodriguez gave the home team a one-point lead with 3:46 to go. After the Express failed to convert on the other end, Mariah Mills connected on a jumper to give the Vikings more breathing room at 49-46 with 2:43 remaining. 

It came down to the final minute as a layup by Rios pulled Monroe to within one (49-48) with 57 seconds left. Beverly Williams forced a steal on the next possession to give the Express a chance to take the lead. However, Monroe could not capitalize on a 3-point attempt and Rodriguez snatched the rebound for the Vikings. Bell was eventually fouled intentionally with six seconds left and was sent to the line for two shots. She missed the first but made the second to make it 50-48 in favor of Westchester. 

After a timeout, Monroe had a chance to tie or win the game but the Express committed a turnover as the ball went out of bounds off a scramble with one second left which gave Westchester possession. The Vikings threw an inbounds pass and dribbled the ball away, before Monroe was able to intentionally foul, until the buzzer sounded to clinch the narrow victory for the home team.

For the Vikings, Bell finished with a game-high 26 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Martin provided 10 points, six boards, just as many steals, and three assists. Rodriguez produced seven points, 14 rebounds, and seven steals. 

Monroe will continue its road trip on Tuesday with a Region 15 matchup against Dutchess Community College. Tipoff at Falcon Gymnasium is set for 6 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, 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).