NEW ROCHELLE, NY — An undermanned Monroe Mustangs women’s basketball team put in a strong effort, but fell to Rowan College at Burlington County, 71-60, in the season opener on Wednesday night in Mount Holly, New Jersey. Three Mustangs reached double-figures in scoring in the contest.
Sophomore, Gabrielle Jubinville led Monroe with 20 points and nine rebounds. She shot 8-12 (67%) in the loss. Breanna Dennis chipped in with 14 points and grabbed four steals. In her debut, Jersey City, New Jersey, product, Samantha Hines totaled 12 points and made 6-of-10 shots.
Monroe got off to a quick start, jumping out to a 6-2 lead on baskets from Jubinville, Destini Green and Dennis. Rowan would respond as neither side could gain a foothold on the game. The first quarter ended with Rowan ahead, 18-14.
The second quarter opened with a 12-2 run from Monroe, turning a four-point deficit into a six point lead, 26-20. The Barons scored the first basket of the quarter to lead, 20-14. From there, the Mustangs heated up. Jubinville hit a pair of free throws to make the score, 20-16. Hines got a steal and took it back for a layup to pull Monroe within 20-18. The game was tied when Dennis grabbed a steal and went it for the easy bucket. Jubinville hit a shot to put the Mustangs ahead, and Dennis scored the next four points to make it 26-20. The pesky, Monroe defense held Rowan scoreless for a 3:56 stretch. The Mustangs led at the half, 36-31.
The largest lead of the game for Monroe came in the third quarter, when a Destini Green layup put them up, 40-33. Rowan methodically erased the lead in the remainder of the period and tied the score at 45-all with 0:50 remaining in the third.
The lack of depth may have hurt Monroe in the fourth quarter. They were ahead by two on a pair of Green foul shots with 8:00 left, but got outscored 24-11 the rest of the way and fell, 71-60.
The Monroe College women’s basketball team returns to action on Friday, November 6, when they compete in the Rockbury Community College Tournament in Boston, Massachusetts.
